ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Crops: Genetically Modified Organisms

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has undertaken of whether Bt proteins from genetically modified crops can survive the human digestive system and pass into the blood supply; and if she will make a statement.

Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
	In the European Union, genetically modified (GM) foods undergo a pre-market evaluation that includes the safety of components introduced into GM crops, such as Bt proteins. The safety of Bt proteins has also been assessed during the authorisation of pesticides that contain the microorganism Bacillus thuringiensis. The assessment of the Bt proteins that are present in authorised GM foods is based on tests in animals and does not include human trials to examine whether the proteins pass into the blood supply. However, the available data from in vitro tests have shown that Bt proteins are rapidly broken down by digestive enzymes in the same way as most other proteins in the diet.

Dangerous Dogs

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to respond to her Department's consultation on (a) proposals for compulsory microchipping and (b) other proposals in its consultation on dangerous dogs.

James Paice: We will shortly announce measures to tackle them and make our streets safer.
	Responses to the proposals in the DEFRA dangerous dogs consultation, held last year, were strongly divided with primary concerns being whether the bans on specific dog breeds were the best approach to reduce dog attacks, and how to deal promptly and effectively with those that allow their dogs to be a nuisance to others.
	There has not been a public consultation on compulsory microchipping.
	DEFRA is working closely with the Home Office on the antisocial behaviour dimension to the dangerous dogs issue. The Home Office have run a public consultation on proposals to replace and streamline the measures to tackle antisocial behaviour. The new, flexible, tools proposed would replace 18 formal powers currently in use, including those applicable to dogs. The consultation ended on 17 May and the responses are now being analysed.

Appliances: Energy

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on encouraging the implementation of (a) energy efficiency and (b) energy labelling standards for all major energy-consuming appliances.

Richard Benyon: The Government are fully committed to raising energy efficiency standards for products, and encouraging consumers and businesses to buy the most efficient products available. Removing the least efficient products from the market remains one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing CO2 emissions, and benefits consumers and businesses by reducing their energy bills. The UK is at the forefront of negotiating ambitious yet achievable minimum energy performance and labelling standards in Europe for the highest energy-consuming appliances. Government recently launched a campaign with retailers to promote a better understanding of the EU Energy label among consumers.
	In addition to minimum energy performance and labelling standards agreed in Europe, DEFRA, along with the Energy Saving Trust, has launched a voluntary retailer initiative for televisions, which encourages retailers to remove the least efficient products from their shelves ahead of legislative requirements and promote best in class products. The UK is also working closely with industry on an EU-wide voluntary code of conduct on data centres.
	Our enforcement authority, the National Measurement Office, works with businesses to ensure these energy efficiency measures are adhered to.

Food Production

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the food production industry is comprised of small and medium-sized enterprises.

James Paice: Small and medium enterprises are those where the number of employees is between 0 and 249.
	As a percentage of the total number of enterprises in the manufacture of food products and beverages sector, 98% are small and medium enterprises.
	Based upon turnover of the manufacture of food products and beverages sector, 26% are small and medium enterprises.
	The breakdown of these figures is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 2010 UK 
			  Number Percent 
			  Enterprises Employment (  1,000) Turnover (  £ million) Enterprises Employment Turnover 
			 Manufacture of food products and beverages     
			 All enterprises 13,650 404 78,035 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	
		
			 All employers 5,885 396 77,599 43.1 98.0 99.4 
			        
			 With no employees(1) 7,765 8 436 56.9 2.0 0.6 
			 1 480 1 75 3.5 0.2 0.1 
			 2-4 1,790 6 773 13.1 1.5 1.0 
			 5-9 1,140 (2)7 823 8.4 1.7 1.1 
			 10-19 820 12 (2)1,130 6.0 3.0 1.4 
			 20-49 770 24 3,272 5.6 5.9 4.2 
			 50-99 375 (2)25 (2)5,282 2.7 6.2 6.8 
			 100-199 235 34 6,612 1.7 8.4 8.5 
			 200-249 45 (2)10 (2)1,660 0.3 2.5 2.1 
			 Total SMEs 13,420 127 20,063 98 31 26 
			 250-499 95 31 (2)5,060 0.7 7.7 6.5 
			 500 or more 135 241 51,474 1.0 59.7 66.0 
			 (1 )"With no employees" comprises sole proprietorships and partnerships comprising only the self-employed owner-manager(s), and companies comprising of only one employee director. (2) Numbers for beverages not included in order to avoid disclosure of confidential data Note: Numbers of enterprises are rounded, in order to avoid disclosure. Consequently, the "All Enterprises" and "All Employers" totals may not exactly match the sum of their parts. Source:  BIS Enterprise Directorate Analytical Unit

Food: Waste

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations govern the provision by retail outlets and restaurants of items of food past their sell-by date to homeless people and charitable organisations.

James Paice: There are no specific regulations which cover the provision of food to homeless people or charities.
	However businesses should be aware of the following.
	The Food Safety Act 1990 (as amended) provides the framework for all food legislation in Britain—similar legislation applies in Northern Ireland. This provides food safety requirements to prevent food being food sold or given away by a food business that would be injurious to health or unfit for consumption.
	The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended) require that all pre-packed foods carry a durability indication, either a ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date. It is against the law to supply food for human consumption past the ‘use by’ date as the safety of the food is likely to be compromised. Food can be supplied after the ‘best before’ date, as long as the food is fit for consumption and not injurious to health.
	‘Sell by’ dates are voluntary markings by retailers and as such there are no regulations covering their use.
	Most of the provision in the Food Labelling Regulations do not apply to catering establishments, including providing date marks. However, the Food Safety Act requirements still apply and the food would have to be safe.

Forests

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements she has put in place to ensure the protection and continuation of existing permissive access rights under any prospective sale of Forestry Commission land.

James Paice: All new sales of the public forest estate have been suspended until the Government have considered the recommendations from the Independent Panel on Forestry.

Infectious Diseases: Herbal Medicine

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the treatment of echinococcus multilocularis following the implementation of the EU Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products.

James Paice: I have not received any representations regarding the treatment of animals against Echinococcus multilocularis with respect to the implementation of the EU directive on traditional herbal medicines, which primarily relates to human health and therefore falls to the Department of Health.

Livestock: Transport

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information regarding animal welfare (a) on the journey and (b) at the final destination is requested by the Animal Exports Division of her Department before authorisations for exports are granted.

James Paice: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) is responsible for checking the application for a journey log which has to be submitted by the transporter for any consignment of major livestock species or domestic equidae that are to be exported on journeys lasting over 8 hours. The application must provide, among other things, details of the length of the journey including any statutory rest periods. Once AHVLA is satisfied that the journey will meet all of the necessary EU legal requirements, it is approved. The journey log must then accompany the consignment on the journey to the final destination. The journey log must be returned by transporters to AHVLA following completion of the journey. AHVLA undertakes checks of returned journey logs to ensure the journey was completed as planned, (or if deviations occurred, these were justifiable) and that no infringements of the EU legislation took place.

Livestock: Transport

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the regulation of the export of live animals.

James Paice: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) on 3 May 2011, Official Report, columns 610-11W.

Pets: Animal Welfare

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on pet cat containment fences; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: No such research has been commissioned by DEFRA.

Pets: Animal Welfare

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on banning the use of cat containment fences.

James Paice: Any restriction on the use of containment fences would require new legislation to be introduced. If the Government were to propose new legislation to ban the use of containment fences, there would be a public consultation exercise to provide the opportunity for interested individuals and organisations to provide their comments on the Government's proposals. All comments received would then be carefully considered before the introduction of any such legislation.

Rain Forests: Brazil

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Brazil on the deforestation of the Amazon region and its likely effects on the environment; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: holding answer 7 June 2011
	The Secretary of State visited Brazil in April and held constructive discussions with the Government to discuss deforestation and the associated biodiversity loss, with particular reference to the Amazon and Cerrado.

Trapping

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 710W, on trapping, whether she has set a date for publication of the report; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: We still expect to publish the report in 2011 but it remains the case that no firm date has yet been set.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Fire Services: Finance

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the (a) highest, (b) average and (c) lowest percentage change is in estimated revenue spending power for fire services in England between 2011 and 2013;
	(2)  what the percentage change in estimated revenue spending power will be for the West Midlands Fire Service between 2011 and 2013.

Bob Neill: Overall, single purpose fire and rescue authorities will see a change in their estimated revenue spending power of -2.2% in 2011-12 and -0.5% in 2012-13. Information on the percentage changes in estimated revenue spending power for individual authorities can be found on the DCLG website at:
	2011-12:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/spannexas.xls
	2012-13:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/spannexbs3.xls

West Midlands Fire Service

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received on changes to the formula grant for West Midlands Fire Service.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Westminster North (Ms Buck) on 24 May 2011, Official Report, columns 687-88W.

Homelessness

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to the balance between community empowerment and preventing opposition to any kind of local development in planning and allocating (a) homeless and (b) other services under the provisions of the Localism Bill.

Greg Clark: With regard to planning, where the last Government tried to deliver development through imposition from above, this Government will do so through participation and involvement on the ground. Our reforms will enable people to shape development in their local area, and share in the benefits of growth, to deliver the development the country needs.
	With regards to homelessness, the Localism Bill does not change the duty on local housing authorities to secure suitable accommodation for households who are eligible for assistance, homeless through no fault of their own and in ‘priority need’. The Bill's provisions give local authorities flexibility to end the homelessness duty with offer of suitable accommodation in private rented sector.
	With regards to other services, the community right to challenge will enable communities to express an interest in running a local authority service which, where accepted, will lead to a procurement exercise for the service.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what process his Department undertook in determining the awarding of the contract to run the national representative body for local enterprise partnerships to the British Chambers of Commerce;
	(2)  what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure transparency in the funding of the national representative body for local enterprise partnerships;
	(3)  whether he assessed the merits of alternative options for the operation of a network of local enterprise partnerships before awarding the work to the British Chambers of Commerce;
	(4)  what process his Department undertook to determine the cost to the public purse of establishing a national local enterprise partnership network run by the British Chambers of Commerce;
	(5)  if he will publish the final business case made to his Department by the British Chambers of Commerce for the operation of the national local enterprise partnership network.

Bob Neill: The British Chambers of Commerce offered to run a network of local enterprise partnerships and submitted a proposal to support this offer. The Government have chosen the British Chambers of Commerce as the preferred option to run the network because, with its existing extensive network and capability across the country, it is ideally placed to provide the capability and support that partnerships need to achieve their economic ambitions.
	The Department is not procuring this service but will support this activity led by British Chambers of Commerce. No grant agreement is yet in place and any funding awarded will be subject to a satisfactory funding agreement which will be dependent on the quality of their final business case and is subject to the Department's normal funding arrangements.
	Subject to the necessary redactions to protect sensitive personal and commercial information, we shall publish their final business case.
	The British Chambers of Commerce is committed to working closely with other business organisations to ensure that the network is a success. We hope other business organisations will engage constructively in this work going forward.

Public Sector Pensions

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to respond to the letter of 20 April 2011 concerning public sector pensions sent by the hon. Member for Walsall North of 20 April to the Treasury; and for what reasons the letter was transferred to his Department.

Bob Neill: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 23 May 2011. The letter was transferred as my Department has policy responsibility for the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, column 345W, on the arts, when the project into quantifying the economic benefit of the arts and cultural sector will be completed; and if he will publish the report of the project;
	(2)  whether he has plans to commission a study on the value of the arts to (a) the economy and (b) society.

Jeremy Hunt: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is currently in a scoping phase regarding the project aimed at providing a framework for quantifying the economic contribution of the Department’s sectors, including arts and culture. Once this scoping phase is completed, we will be in a position to decide whether this work will be undertaken internally or commissioned externally. Once complete, the outputs of this work will be published on the DCMS website.
	This project is focused on economic contribution. A few strands of work have been completed on the value of arts to society. Research produced through the Department’s CASE programme considers the value of culture in terms of engagement. This can be found at the following link:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/research/CASE-value-summary-report-July10.pdf
	The Arts Council did a large scale consultation in 2007 on the value of arts, the details of which can be found at the following link:
	http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/about-us/research/public-value-programme/arts-debate-findings/
	A report was written for the Department on the measurement of the value of culture and this was published in December 2010. This can be found at the following link:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7660.aspx

BBC

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will initiate discussions with the BBC Trust on steps to assist in ensuring that any BBC cost-saving measures are targeted at making efficiency savings.

Edward Vaizey: How the BBC implements cost-saving measures is a matter for the BBC but I encourage them to avoid any reduction in its core services as was agreed during the licence fee negotiations.

BBC

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the scope is of potential changes that can be made to the governance of the BBC in advance of charter renewal.

Jeremy Hunt: Any changes would be made within the framework of the BBC Charter and Agreement.

Henley Review

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what meetings he has had with the Secretary of State for Education to discuss the Henley review of cultural education;
	(2)  when the Henley review on the future of cultural education will report.

Jeremy Hunt: The independent review of cultural education was announced on the 8 April 2011 and Ministers have asked Darren Henley to produce his final report by the end of the year.
	Discussions between my Department and the Department for Education are on-going.

S4C

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he received a request from (a) members of the Welsh Government or (b) the Secretary of State for Wales between 6 May and 20 May 2011 to meet to discuss issues relating to S4C.

Edward Vaizey: We are not aware of any requests from Members of the Welsh Government or the Secretary of State for Wales between 6 and 20 May 2011 to meet the Secretary of State to discuss issues relating to S4C.

Video Games

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to implement recommendations of the Byron Review relating to assistance to parents to restrict children's access to games which are not suitable for their age.

Edward Vaizey: The Government are currently working with a number of key organisations on the detail of making statutory the Pan European Games Information scheme for games aimed at those aged 12 or over. This accords with the recommendations made by Tanya Byron in her report “Safer Children in Digital World”. It is vital that we are satisfied that the arrangements that we are putting in place work for industry, regulators, those involved in enforcement, and, especially, for parents.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

Surveys

Priti Patel: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority how many (a) opinion polls and (b) surveys IPSA 
	(1)  has commissioned since its establishment; and what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of each such activity;
	(2)  is planning to conduct in the next 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of each such activity.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated June 2011
	As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about opinion polls and surveys planned and conducted by IPSA.
	Since IPSA began operations in May 2010 it has conducted one public opinion poll and one external online survey as part of the first Annual Review of the MPs' Expenses Scheme. The opinion poll was part of a regular omnibus poll conducted by an independent polling company at a cost of approximately £2700. The online survey was created by IPSA staff using commercial software, at a one-off cost of £1169 (with one-off web hosting cost of £464). This software has subsequently been used for a website usability survey and may be used to conduct future external surveys.
	At this stage, IPSA does not have specific plans for future external surveys or opinion polling, although we would anticipate periodically carrying out research into public opinion in relation to the work of IPSA.

JUSTICE

Departmental Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff of (a) his Department, (b) HM Courts and Tribunals Service, (c) HM Land Registry, (d) the National Offender Management Service, (e) the National Archives and (f) the Office of the Public Guardian were entitled to work (i) full-time as trade union representatives and (ii) part-time on trade union activities in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11; how many such staff were paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost was to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties.

Kenneth Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 407-408W.
	Facilities Agreements between the Ministry of Justice and the Trade Union Sides follow the provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the ACAS Code of Practice “Time off for Trade Union Duties and Activities” available at:
	http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2391
	These departmental agreements are in the process of being reviewed, and more recent data cannot currently be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost of a drug rehabilitation requirement was in the latest period for which figures are available; how many such requirements are in force; how many such requirements made in respect of persons (a) of each sex and (b) each age group were (i) made, (ii) successfully completed and (iii) breached by non-compliance in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: The drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) is the primary means for sentenced offenders to address their drug misuse as part of a community order or suspended sentence order. The costs of the DRR cover treatment, which is funded by drug (and alcohol) action teams (D(A)ATs) in England, and the costs of managing the requirement by local probation trusts.
	Significant local variations in D(A)AT commissioning practice and costs of treatment modalities have made it difficult to establish the average cost of the treatment element of a DRR.
	Detailed work to cost the services funded by NOMS estimates the average direct cost of supporting a DRR. This is the cost per completion at different levels of intensity for different lengths of requirement, each of which relate to the seriousness of the offence and the extent of the offender's needs.(1) The estimates are as follows, and are contained in published information which has been placed in both Libraries.
	
		
			 Table 1: Cost per completion ("does cost ") of DRR by type and length 
			 £ 
			  Intensity 
			 DRR duration (months) Low Medium High 
			 6 1,010 2,165 2,682 
			 9 1,409 3,096 3,838 
			 12 2,244 4,067 5,040 
			 18 3,047 5,969 7,397 
		
	
	The most recent analysis of the case load found that on 31 December 2010 there were 8,114 community orders with a DRR and 3,127 suspended sentence orders with a DRR in force.
	The following table shows the number of DRR commencements, successful completions, and revocations for non-compliance following breach proceedings broken down by age and gender in each of the last three years for which full information is available(2). Data on the number of applications made for a summons or warrant to return the offender to court for breach are not collected centrally by type of requirement.
	The proportion of offenders successfully completing DRRs rose from 47% in 2008-09 to 56% in 2009-10(3). This is encouraging because we know from research relating to the drug treatment and testing order (DTTO), which was replaced by the DRR, that offenders who complete orders have significantly lower reconviction rates (53%) than those that do not (91%)(4), although it is not possible to attribute this difference entirely to the programme.
	NOMS recently undertook a delivery review of DRRs which recommended the overhaul of starts and completion targets with clear outcome focused measures.
	(1) The DRR can be used for low, medium and high sentencing bands. The amount and intensity of the drug treatment delivered under the DRR can be tailored to individual treatment needs regardless of the seriousness of the offence. The content and duration of the total community order should provide the overall restriction of liberty which is commensurate with the seriousness of the offence.
	(2) These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
	(3) Ministry of Justice {2010) National Offender Management Service Annual Report 2009/10: Management Information Addendum. London: Ministry of Justice.
	(4) Hough, M., Clancy, A., McSweeney, T. and Turnbull, P.J. (2003) The Impact of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders on offending: two year reconviction results. Home Office Research Findings No. 184. London: Home Office.
	
		
			 Number of drug rehabilitation requirements (DRRs) commenced, successfully completed and revoked for failure to comply 2008-10 
			   Male 
			   18-20 21-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ All 
			 2008          
			 Community order Commencements 481 1,334 2,755 4,243 1,403 134 5 10,355 
			  Completions 156 389 768 1,300 505 59 1 3,178 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 30 63 148 198 57 1 0 497 
			           
			 Suspended sentence order Commencements 200 510 944 1,411 409 48 0 3,522 
			  Completions 52 149 244 406 130 18 1 1,000 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 10 25 54 70 14 0 0 173 
			           
			 2009          
			 Community order Commencements 402 1,173 2,405 4,060 1,327 169 8 9,544 
			  Completions 170 505 1,076 1819 716 89 6 4,381 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 26 54 102 155 39 3 0 379 
			           
		
	
	
		
			 Suspended sentence order Commencements 154 426 894 1,351 441 54 5 3,325 
			  Completions 83 162 279 498 200 13 1 1,236 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 12 16 33 39 7 0 0 107 
			           
			 2010          
			 Community order Commencements 453 1,213 2,239 3,903 1,498 172 7 9,485 
			  Completions 170 467 889 1746 685 77 9 4,043 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 22 47 93 138 33 1 0 334 
			           
			 Suspended sentence order Commencements 139 421 812 1,483 436 43 8 3,342 
			  Completions 53 171 332 555 246 29 4 1,390 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 7 16 18 51 6 1 0 99 
		
	
	
		
			   Female  
			   18-20 21-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ All Total 
			 2008           
			 Community order Commencements 200 493 767 1,008 308 22 1 2,799 13,154 
			  Completions 54 130 206 275 91 15 1 772 3,950 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 12 27 55 52 19 2 0 167 664 
			            
			 Suspended sentence order Commencements 41 128 239 285 83 6 0 782 4,304 
			  Completions 11 31 63 83 26 1 0 215 1,215 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 6 12 12 14 3 0 0 47 220 
			            
			 2009           
			 Community order Commencements 166 453 640 967 296 20 1 2,543 12,087 
			  Completions 53 171 277 411 141 9 2 1,064 5,445 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 12 26 37 54 19 0 0 148 527 
			            
			 Suspended sentence order Commencements 37 145 218 271 107 17 0 795 4,120 
			  Completions 16 50 86 96 46 1 0 295 1,531 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 2 8 15 11 4 0 0 40 147 
			            
			 2010           
			 Community order Commencements 142 429 704 932 280 22 2 2,511 11,996 
			  Completions 49 134 247 388 139 9 1 967 5,010 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 11 33 35 34 6 1 0 120 454 
			            
			 Suspended sentence order Commencements 53 100 179 315 79 7 0 733 4,075 
			  Completions 14 50 73 123 59 9 0 328 1,718 
			  Revoked (failure to comply) 1 4 8 12 1 0 0 26 125

Homicide: Convictions

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences of (a) murder, (b) rape and (c) unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor there have been in each year since 1997; and what proportion of such convictions followed a guilty plea at the first instance in each such year.

Crispin Blunt: Defendants pleading guilty at the Crown court for either, murder, rape or sexual activity with a child, the total number of offenders found guilty for these offences and the proportion of convictions where a guilty plea was given, England and Wales 1997 to 2010 are shown in the table.
	It is not possible to determine from the Ministry of Justice court proceeding database at what stage a defendant pleaded guilty or not guilty.
	
		
			 Defendants pleading guilty at the Crown Court for either, murder, rape or sexual activity with a child, the total number of offenders found guilty for these offences and the proportion of convictions where a guilty plea was given, England and Wales 1997 to 2010  (1,2) 
			 Offence and outcome 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Murder               
			 Found guilty 275 256 252 261 285 324 277 361 394 372 369 439 376 346 
			 No. of guilty pleas 27 44 49 40 55 55 60 90 92 87 96 84 87 72 
			 Proportion of convictions where a guilty plea was given (%) 10 17 19 15 19 17 22 25 23 23 26 19 23 21 
			                
			 Rape               
			 Found guilty 615 674 654 593 569 651 671 748 787 854 860 913 984 1,037 
			 No. of guilty pleas 231 237 246 215 213 258 259 310 361 395 385 406 443 466 
			 Proportion of convictions where a guilty plea was given (%) 38 35 38 36 37 40 39 41 46 46 45 44 45 45 
			                
			 Sexual activity with a child(3)               
			 Found guilty 167 179 155 164 168 177 198 268 522 726 694 780 801 902 
			 No. of guilty pleas 145 163 139 139 152 165 181 244 435 584 575 626 658 744 
			 Proportion of convictions where a guilty plea was given (%) 87 91 90 85 90 93 91 91 83 80 83 80 82 82 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Prior to 2003 sexual activity with a child was classed as unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under Sexual Offences Act 1956. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

TREASURY

Banks: Regulation

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what sanctions he has considered introducing in the event that the banks participating in Project Merlin do not meet their lending targets;
	(2)  what sanctions Ministers and officials of his Department and representatives of the banking sector discussed imposing in the event that banks participating in Project Merlin did not meet their agreed lending targets during the negotiations for that agreement.

Mark Hoban: On 9 February, the Chancellor announced a new commitment by the UK’s biggest high street banks on lending expectations and capacity. As part of this commitment, the banks intend to lend £190 billion of new credit to businesses in 2011, up from £179 billion in 2010. If demand exceeds this, the banks will lend more. £76 billion of this lending will be to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is a 15% increase on 2010 lending of £66 billion.
	The commitment to make new lending to SMEs is part of the performance metrics of each bank’s chief executive and those of the senior managers responsible for SME lending. The Government reserve the right to return to this issue and take further measures if the banks fail to live up to their commitments.

Carbon Emissions

Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the analysis underlying the decision to set carbon price support at the level (a) announced in the 2011 Budget and (b) proposed in the preceding consultation.

Justine Greening: The consultation asked for views on how best to implement a carbon price floor, including how the Government should determine future market prices of carbon upon which to base carbon price support rates. The consultation used the Government’s long-term carbon price forecast as an illustration.
	The Government published their response to the consultation on 30 March 2011, confirming that a market-based approach would be used to determine carbon price support rates as this was the option preferred by respondents.
	This is available online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/carbon_price_floor_consultation_govt_response.pdf

Child Care Tax Credit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of households that are entitled to assistance with childcare costs through tax credits received in excess of 80 per cent. of the maximum permissible amount;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of households receiving above 80 per cent. of the maximum permissible amount of childcare costs through tax credits in (a) each region, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales;
	(3)  what the maximum any household received as a proportion of the maximum permissible amount of childcare costs was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 224W.

Child Care Tax Credit

Michael Dugher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on incentives on single parents to work of the end of childcare tax credit.

David Gauke: When estimating changes to marginal deduction rates, it is reform to the tax and benefit system as a whole that is important to households, rather than certain subsets of it.
	Parents, including lone parents, currently receive support to pay for childcare through the childcare element of working tax credit. In addition, the Government maintained free early learning for three and four year olds, and extended 15 hours a week of free early education and care to all disadvantaged two year olds from 2012-13.
	The new universal credit will replace the current complex system of means-tested working age benefits with an integrated payment over the next two Parliaments, reducing fraud and error and ensuring that work pays. The universal credit will improve financial work incentives by ensuring that support is reduced at a consistent and managed rate as people return to work and increase their working hours and earnings.
	The Government are working with key stakeholders, drawing on their expertise, to establish which options will best support parents to meet the costs of childcare in the future within or alongside universal credit. Details of the new proposal will be set out shortly.

Departmental Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department paid in (a) damages, (b) claimant costs and (c) defendant costs in respect of all civil claims brought against his Department in which the claimant was successful or the Department settled in each of the last three years.

Justine Greening: The Department has not incurred any costs for damages in the last three years. Details of payments made in relation to claimant costs and defendant costs for civil claims brought against the Department during the past three years are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Financial year 
			 Nature of payment 2010-11 2009-10 2008-  0  9 
			 Claimant costs — 270,000.00 — 
			 Defendant costs 171,361.72 447,874.28 208,898.87 
			 Total sum paid out 171,361.72 717,874.28 208,898.87

Devolution: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters were discussed during his meeting with the First Minister on 23 May 2011; and what his policy is on the Scottish Government's request to (a) bring forward and increase borrowing powers under the Scotland Bill, (b) devolve the Scottish Crown Estate and (c) devolve corporation tax to the Scottish Parliament.

Danny Alexander: UK Government Ministers held a series of constructive meetings with the First Minister of Scotland on 23 and 24 May, at which a range of matters were discussed. Any further announcements will be made to Parliament in due course in the context of Scotland Bill.

Devolution: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he received requests for meetings from (a) members of the Welsh Government or (b) the Secretary of State for Wales between 6 May and 20 May 2011 to discuss public expenditure in Wales.

Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials regularly meet with representatives from a wide range of organisations in the public and private sector. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Double Taxation: Israel

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the UK-Israel convention on double taxation is applied to (a) income tax and (b) company tax levied by Israel on individuals or companies based in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories or the Golan Heights.

David Gauke: The 1962 Double Taxation Convention between the UK and Israel does not apply to individuals or companies in the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories or the Golan Heights.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reason is for the time taken to commence the review of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Mark Hoban: It is essential that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is able to pay out compensation to all eligible policyholders. Without certainty of payout, consumer protection is substantially weakened. It is therefore vital that the FSCS is able to raise resources in a range of circumstances to compensate consumers effectively.
	The rules governing the FSCS are set by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which has commenced a review of the funding model of the FSCS. They will proceed to a formal consultation and cost benefit analysis once discussions on European directives affecting compensation arrangements have been concluded and the Government's policy on the future role of the FSCS in the context of reform of the regulatory architecture for financial services has been settled.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on the potential effect on insurance brokers of the increase in the levy for the Financial Services Compensation scheme;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the potential effects on insurance brokers of the increased levy under the Financial Services Compensation scheme.

Mark Hoban: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 126W.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much accrued to the Exchequer from empty property business rates in the last 12 months.

David Gauke: The Government do not hold information on the amount of business rates raised from empty properties in England.
	The Government publish data on empty property rate relief, received by owners of empty non-domestic properties. The latest figures can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1824788.xls

Revenue and Customs: Complaints

Damian Hinds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received on the operation of HMRC in respect of (i) service levels, (ii) timeliness of response, (iii) clarity of communications and (iv) other matters; and what categories are used to classify such complaints.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs maintains a complaints database to help the Department understand why complaints are made and act to address this. Within the database, complaints are assigned to one of the following core categories: delay, staff conduct, process/system, policy/legislation, communication, misleading advice, loss/damage, mistake/error, compensation/costs claim and discrimination. HMRC categorises complaints when they are resolved, rather than when they are received.
	For the year 2010-11 HMRC resolved 76,438 complaints of which 22,185 were categorised as ‘delay’ and 10,632 were categorised as ‘communication’. HMRC does not categorise complaints under a heading of “service levels”.

Smuggling: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints HM Revenue and Customs has received on the use of vehicle stop and search powers in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years and how many such complaints have been upheld.

David Gauke: holding answer 16 May 2011
	No complaints have been received in Northern Ireland in the last four years as a result of our stop and search powers.

Smuggling: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations HM Revenue and Customs received from political parties in Northern Ireland (a) in the 12 months prior to and (b) during its review of vehicle stop and search powers.

David Gauke: holding answer 16 May 2011
	HMRC received one MP's letter for NI which was in December 2010 from the right hon. Member asking about the cessation of our stop and search powers in Northern Ireland.

Smuggling: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many detections HM Revenue and Customs made as a result of the use of vehicle stop and search powers in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: In the period April to October 2010, 41 detections were made as a result of the stop and search powers in Northern Ireland. The use of the powers was suspended in October 2010.

Smuggling: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse incurred in training HM Revenue and Customs officers in Northern Ireland in the use of vehicle stop and search powers in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: holding answer 16 May 2011
	Costs for training HMRC officers in the use of stop and search powers in NI over the last five years were £4,200. These were incurred in 2009-10 and no other expenditure has been incurred on this training in the last five years.

VAT: Insurance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the future of the exemption from value added tax for outsourced insurance-related services in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: holding answer 3 May 2011
	Discussions concerning an EU Commission Proposal that would modernise the VAT exemption for financial and insurance services have taken place at the Council of Ministers Working Party level for several years and are continuing under the Hungarian presidency. These have included the issue of the VAT treatment of outsourcing in the insurance sector. The matter was discussed by Ministers as part of an overall orientation debate on the dossier at the November 2010 ECOFIN.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma: Politics and Government

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Burmese Government following reports of a breach of the ceasefire agreement with the Shan State Army; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The Government are deeply concerned by the reported breakdown of a ceasefire agreement with the Shan State Army North (now known as the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army) that has led to renewed conflict in Shan State. Our ambassador to Rangoon raised the issue of the ongoing conflict with the Burmese Government on 10 May 2011 underlining the importance of a political solution. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials made the same point to the Burmese Ambassador to the UK on 5 May 2011. We continue to monitor the situation and urge the Burmese Government to engage in genuine dialogue with ethnic groups and work towards a peaceful solution.

Departmental Equality

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a public address on diversity in his Department.

Henry Bellingham: In line with our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the Department will be publishing diversity information by 31 December 2011.

Lord's Resistance Army

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Governments of (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (b) Uganda and (c) Rwanda on the activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army.

Henry Bellingham: We have regularly discussed the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) with key partners, including the Governments of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and UN Peacekeeping Operations in the region. These discussions, which have taken place bilaterally, at the International Working Group (IWG) on the LRA and at the UN Security Council, have been with a view to helping to improve co-ordination amongst those countries and organisations that are working to reduce the threat posed by the LRA to civilians in the region.
	Discussions have covered the joint military effort to pursue the remaining LRA units in DRC, Central African Republic and South Sudan; work by UN agencies on disarming, demobilising and repatriating LRA combatants; and the work of UN agencies and non-governmental organisations to provide humanitarian relief to LRA- affected areas.

Uganda: Politics and Government

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Ugandan counterpart the treatment of the opposition leader Kizza Besigye and unarmed civilians during recent protests in that country.

Henry Bellingham: I have directly raised the UK's concerns over the Ugandan authorities’ handling of the ongoing opposition protests with Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa. Our High Commission in Kampala, along with other EU member state missions, has raised our concerns directly with President Museveni. Our High Commission has also raised concerns with the Ugandan Prime Minister and Inspector General of Police.
	The UK and its partners have urged the Ugandan authorities to respect their peoples' constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful exercise of the freedoms of speech and assembly, and that the police should respond proportionally to instances of unrest amongst demonstrators.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Manpower

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff were employed in each directorate of his Department in 2009-10.

Owen Paterson: The number of staff employed by the Northern Ireland Office in 2009-10 is recorded in the departmental report for this period. The information can be found on page 13 of the Report. We do not hold information on the number of staff recorded by directorate in 2009-10.
	http://www.nio.gov.uk/nio-pubs-search-results?start=20 &category=Departmental_Reports&keyword=&order= date&submitbutton.x=17&submitbutton.y=9

Manpower

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of staff at the Northern Ireland Office at each grade were transferred to the Department of Justice Northern Ireland (a) before, (b) on and (c) since 12 April 2010.

Owen Paterson: The information is as follows:
	(a) No members of staff were transferred into the Department of Justice before it took legal effect on 12 April 2010.
	(b) The number of Department of Finance and Personnel (Northern Ireland) staff seconded to the Northern Ireland Office prior to devolution and who subsequently transferred to the Department of Justice NI at devolution is:
	
		
			 Grade Number of staff 
			 SCS 24 
			 Grade 7/A 75 
			 Grade DP/B1 112 
			 Grade SO/B2 196 
			 Grade C/EO 240 
			 Grade AO/D1 318 
			 Grade AA/D2 110 
			 Non-general service grades 649 
			 NIPS Uniform grades 1879 
		
	
	(c) The number of staff at the Northern Ireland Office who have transferred to the Department of Justice NI since 12 April 2010 is:
	
		
			 Grade Number of staff 
			 SCS 1 
			 Grade 7/A 3 
			 Grade DP/B1 3 
			 Grade SO/B2 4 
			 Grade C/EO 7 
			 Grade AO/D1 3 
			 Grade AA/D2 7

Prison Service: Manpower

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions the Secretary of State has had with the Board of Directors of the Prison Service Trust in Northern Ireland in the last two years on the establishment of a Garden of Remembrance dedicated to the memory of prison office staff who gave their lives in the course of the troubles.

Owen Paterson: Since my appointment, I have not had any discussions with the Board of Directors of the Prison Service Trust in Northern Ireland with regard to this matter.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services: Standards

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has plans to make the data generated by real time information equipment supported by Bus Service Operators Grant available to (a) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and (b) the Traffic Commissioners for the purposes of overseeing service performance.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is currently undertaking an initial information gathering exercise by contacting bus operators claiming the Bus Service Operators Grant Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) incentive to determine what data are available and in what format.
	The Department has not yet requested data generated by the Bus Service Operators Grant AVL incentive and will produce a note of why it needs any data requested after this initial information gathering stage and will set out in writing how these data will be collected, used and protected.

Bus Services: Standards

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officers the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency made available for monitoring the performance of bus services in each region in the latest period for which figures are available.

Michael Penning: The figures as at the end of April 2011 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Scotland 4 
			 North East/North West 3 
			 West Midlands 1 
			 Wales 3 
			 Western 1 
			 South East 1 
			 Eastern 1

Bus Services: Standards

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of (a) buses and (b) coaches were subject to prohibition notices as a result of (i) announced and (ii) unannounced checks by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) does not record PSV prohibition figures based on announced and unannounced encounters. There is also no split of the information between buses and coaches. However the following information for all PSVs is held:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Fleet checks at operators premises Roadside Checks 
			 2010-11 15.3 19.2 
			 2009-10 14.8 23.4 
			 2008-09 13.2 20.4 
			 2007-08 15.0 19.9 
			 2006-07 14.4 17.0 
			 Note: Some fleet checks at operators' premises will be announced but it is not possible to determine the proportion.

Great Western Railway Line

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for journey time improvements to the Great Western main line between south Wales and London other than by electrification; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The new fleet of trains procured by the Intercity Express programme will reduce journey times from Cardiff to London Paddington by seventeen minutes and Swansea to London Paddington by 20 minutes. The journey time reductions are a result of the trains' faster acceleration, shorter station dwell times and a revised service pattern, and are not caused by electrification as such.
	Furthermore, because modern trains accelerate very much faster, Network Rail is reviewing whether any speed limits along the line of route might be increased so as to maximise the benefit of this improved acceleration.

Pedestrian Crossings

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when guidance for local authorities on the introduction of (a) school, (b) pedestrian and (c) light-controlled pedestrian crossings was last published; and whether he has any plans to publish revised guidance.

Norman Baker: Guidance on school crossing patrols is published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA). The School Crossing Patrol Service Guidelines were last updated in 2010 and are reviewed annually.
	The Department published guidance on the introduction of pedestrian crossings in 1995 in Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/95: The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings, and LTN 2/95: The Design of Pedestrian Crossings.
	Detailed guidance on puffin crossings was published in 2006 in the Puffin Good Practice Guide. These may be revised in the future as a result of the Traffic Signs Policy Review.

Traffic Commissioners: Manpower

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many support staff were available to (a) the Senior Traffic Commissioner and (b) individual traffic commissioners in the latest period for which figures are available.

Michael Penning: The budget for the Office of the Traffic Commissioner and Licensing for 2011-12 is 177.25 members of staff of which 166.24 are in post. These are distributed as follows:
	(a) there is one member of staff available to the Senior Traffic Commissioner;
	(b) there are 82.46 staff based in the Central Licensing Office in Leeds to whom all Traffic Commissioners (TCs) have access. There are a further 57.92 staff in the traffic area offices as follows:
	
		
			 Scotland (1)11.40 
			 North Easter 6.40 
			 North western 12.4 
			 Wales and the Midlands 7.32 
			 Western 11.40 
		
	
	
		
			 Eastern 9.00 
			 South East and Metropolitan 7.65 
			 (1) Some dealing with devolved issues. 
		
	
	In addition to the above there are the following staff:
	
		
			 Scottish parking appeals 4 
			 Driver conduct 6.51 
			 Traffic Commissioner personal secretaries 4.2 
			 International Road Freight Office 2.5.

Transport: EU Action

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of his response to the European Commission on the EU White Paper on Transport.

Theresa Villiers: The European Commission has not requested a response on the EU Transport White Paper. There will be a debate on the White Paper at the June Transport Council. I will report on the outcome of that Council to Parliament.

Transport: Finance

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 32W, on transport: finance, when he intends to publish up-to-date business case information for Highways Agency major schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: Following the Secretary of State for Transport’s announcement in October 2010 and his commitment to publish the business case for each scheme, the business cases for each individual scheme were published on 30 December 2010 and are available to view on the Highways Agency website. The Department for Transport’s website has also published guidance to help the public understand the business cases and how they were used to make ministerial decisions.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Dogs and Horses

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average daily feed cost for (a) dogs and (b) horses in the service of the armed forces was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: The information is not held in the format requested.

Chinook Helicopters

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of procuring the new Chinook helicopters referred to in the strategic defence and security review.

Peter Luff: holding answer 7 June 2011
	The Ministry of Defence is currently in discussion with Boeing in preparation for the main investment decision point for the 12 new and two replacement Chinooks announced as part of the strategic defence and security review. The cost to the public purse will not be confirmed until the contract is signed. We will announce any significant procurement decisions to Parliament in the usual way.

Departmental Land

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects a decision to be made on the future of his Department's base at Bordon.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 May 2011, Official Report, columns 75-76W, to the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns).
	As a current technical training site, Bordon is one of locations under consideration by the Defence technical training change programme. However, I hope to be able to announce the future of the base at Bordon before the summer recess.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to spend on the (a) Joint Strike Fighter Autonomic Logistics, (b) Joint Strike Fighter Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment System, (c) Joint Strike Fighter Autonomic Logistics Information System, (d) Joint Strike Fighter Air Vehicles and (e) Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II Pilot and Maintenance Training Systems.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 May 2011, Official Report, column 392W. The total cost of the component systems of the Joint Strike Fighter will be determined when the main investment decision point is made. Publishing such details at this early stage would undermine the Department’s commercial position.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 785, on Libya, which countries have provided military advisers to assist the opposition forces.

Nick Harvey: The United Kingdom has deployed a team of military advisers to mentor the National Transitional Council, improving their ability to protect civilians and civilian populated areas. The French and Italian Governments have both stated publicly that they have deployed military advisers to Libya. The release of information pertaining to deployments by other international partners is a matter for those nations concerned.

Tornado Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems his Department (a) plans to install and (b) has installed on the GR4 Tornado;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of installing the Helmet Mounted Cueing System on the GR4 Tornado.

Peter Luff: I am withholding information about the fitting of a Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS) to Tornado GR4 aircraft as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. The cost of the Tornado GR4 HMCS programme is just over £11 million.

SCOTLAND

Crown Relocations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts his Department holds with Crown Relocations; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58635 ]
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not hold any contracts with Crown Relocations.

EU Council of Ministers

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any agreement on enabling Scottish Government Ministers to sit on the EU Council of Ministers was reached at the meetings between the UK Government and the First Minister of Scotland on 23 and 24 May 2011.

Michael Moore: UK Government Ministers held a series of constructive meetings with the First Minister of Scotland on 23 and 24 May, at which a range of matters were discussed. As part of the United Kingdom, Scotland has strong representation at European Council meetings. The UK Government look favourably on all requests from the devolved Administrations to attend and speak at European Council meetings, where devolved matters are to be discussed.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions his Department has had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Scottish Government on the Scottish Government’s request that the Scottish Parliament should control the level of excise duty paid on alcohol in Scotland.

Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters affecting Scotland. At my meeting with the First Minister for Scotland on 12 May, we discussed a range of matters relating to the Scotland Bill.

Serco

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts his Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not hold any contracts with Serco.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Overseas Aid

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the amount to be spent on overseas aid in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2014-15.

Andrew Mitchell: UK Official Development Assistance as a proportion of gross national income will be 0.56% in 2011 and 2012. The Government are fully committed to delivering 0.7% of GNI as ODA from 2013 and will enshrine this commitment in law, in line with the coalition agreement.

Fair Trade Procurement

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on fair trade procurement.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) encourages the procurement of fairly traded products. For instance all tea and coffee available for sale to DFID staff in the UK are either Rain Forest Alliance or Fairtrade certified. The provision and promotion of ethical produce forms part of the specification for our catering services.

Aid Workers: Misrata

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to assist aid workers in Misrata.

Andrew Mitchell: During the two month siege of Misrata by Gaddafi's forces, the UK provided essential support to humanitarian organisations. This included food, medical supplies and personnel. We also supported the evacuation of 5,000 people stranded at the port.

Climate Change

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effects of climate change in developing countries.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) will support those exposed to extreme weather events—floods, droughts and famines—to prepare and protect themselves. We will also support developing countries to invest in low carbon growth while reducing poverty

EU Aid

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of British overseas aid was channelled through EU institutions in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: In 2009-10 financial year, 18% of UK spend on development was channelled through European Union institutions; this amounted to £1.42 billion.

Libya: International Assistance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the UN Secretary-General on post-conflict resolution planning and delivery of humanitarian aid to Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: I met the UN Secretary-General at the end of March at the London Libya Conference. I welcomed his leadership on the co-ordination of humanitarian assistance and supported his role in post-conflict planning to bring stability to Libya once a political settlement is in place.
	The UK recognises that there are immediate stabilisation needs that must be addressed in the interim. We have therefore deployed a stabilisation response team to conduct an assessment of interim needs and help underpin the international stabilisation effort in Libya.
	We will continue to work closely with the United Nations, including through the Secretary-General's special adviser on post-conflict planning in Libya and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, and their teams. The UK is supporting the UN-led international effort to deliver immediate humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict, and to work towards a better future for the Libyan people.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

British Constitution: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he received a request from (a) members of the Welsh Government or (b) the Secretary of State for Wales between 6 May and 20 May 2011 to meet to discuss constitutional issues.

Nicholas Clegg: I meet the Secretary of State regularly to discuss Government business including constitutional issues. I am due to meet the First Minister at the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting on 8 June and at the British Irish Council summit in London on 20 June.

Diamond Jubilee 2012: Urban Areas

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many panel members will determine the outcome of the Diamond Jubilee City Status competition;
	(2)  what process he plans to follow to assess entries in the Diamond Jubilee City Status competition.

Mark Harper: As was made clear in the publicity material which accompanied the launch of the competition, responsibility for advising Her Majesty on civic honours and other royal matters rests with the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord President of the Council, assisted by the Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform. The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's involvement in the diamond jubilee. Other Ministers who will be involved as appropriate include the Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore), the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson) and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles).
	The contents of the applications received will be assessed 'in the round' and on their individual merits. As a royal prerogative matter relating to honours the process will remain confidential, as will Ministers' conclusions until the results are announced. The Queen's decision, made on ministerial advice, will be final and no reasons will be given for applicants' success or failure in the competitions. Local authorities will be sent brief comments on their entries when the decisions are announced.

CABINET OFFICE

Big Society Bank

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate his Department has made of the financial return on investment that banks lending on commercial terms through the big society bank will receive.

Nick Hurd: Four UK banks have agreed to invest £200 million into the big society bank subject to its business plan and on a commercial basis.
	Now that the outline proposal for the BSB has been agreed by Government, negotiations are under way on the terms of the investment. The banks are committed to investing in a way that is compatible with the big society bank's mission is to help grow a sustainable social investment market and achieve returns against a double bottom line of social and financial impact. The exact terms of this investment have yet to be finalised.

Charitable Donations: Schools

David Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the White Paper on giving, what assessment he has made of the role of the Speakers for Schools programme to play in the promotion of the policies outlined in the White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The aim of ‘Speakers for Schools’ is to encourage inspirational, high-profile figures from a range of backgrounds to speak for free in state schools—giving them access to the sorts of networks which private schools have. In recognition that Government can do much to lead the way in this agenda, both in terms of demonstrating commitment to giving their time and by inspiring others to do the same, all members of the Cabinet have signed up to the scheme, which is non-political, and already has significant cross-party support.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Theft

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many thefts from the parliamentary estate have been reported in each month from May 2010 to May 2011.

John Thurso: The following table indicates the number of reported incidents involving theft on the parliamentary estate between May 2010 and May 2011:
	
		
			  Number of reported thefts 
			 2010  
			 May 0 
			 June 2 
			 July 3 
			 August 0 
			 September 0 
			 October 0 
			 November 4 
			 December 2 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 7 
			 February 2 
			 March 6 
			 April 9 
			 May 16

Theft

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many cases of theft from the parliamentary estate were reported in each year since 2006; and what items were reported stolen.

John Thurso: The following table details the number of thefts reported and detail of items stolen by year. It should be noted that multiple items may have been stolen in one incident of reported theft.
	
		
			  Total number of thefts reported Detail of item   reported stolen 
			 2006 13 1x sim card 
			   1x copier paper 
			   1x lights 
			   1x shoes 
			   1x clock 
			   1x CD rewriter 
			   1x flowers 
			   2x laptop 
			   1x mobile phone 
			   1x cash 
			   1x dictaphone 
			   1x personal property 
			    
			 2007 8 1x wallet 
			   1x laptop 
		
	
	
		
			   1x rug 
			   1x bottle of whisky 
			   1x cable drum 
			   1x purse 
			   1x doorkeeper’s badge 
			   2x cash 
			    
			 2008 11 3x cash 
			   1x camera 
			   1x candlestick 
			   1x set of golf clubs 
			   1x mobile phone 
			   1x set of chairs 
			   1x coat 
			   1x laptop 
			   1x pedal cycle 
			    
			 2009 15 1x sat-nav 
			   6x cash 
			   1x wallet 
			   1x computer wire 
			   4x mobile phone 
			   1x letters 
			   1x tax disc 
			    
			 2010 19 5x cash 
			   1x orchid 
			   1x bag 
			   2x laptop 
			   1x camera 
			   1x purse 
			   1x MP3 player 
			   1x computer 
			   1x microphone 
			   1x knife 
			   3x mobile phone 
			   1x iPod nano 
			   1x hard drive 
			    
			 2011 40 2x computer 
			   25x laptop 
			   1x coat 
			   2x cash 
			   1x charm 
			   1x keys 
			   1x sat-nav 
			   1x iPod 
			   3x mobile phone 
			   1x watch 
			   1x camera 
			   1x iPad 
			   1x wallet 
			   1x camcorder

HOME DEPARTMENT

Foreign Travel Orders

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign travel orders issued to prevent a registered sex offender from travelling abroad have been issued in the last three years.

Lynne Featherstone: The number of foreign travel orders that have been issued by the police to registered sex offenders can be found in the 2009-10 Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Annual Report which was published on 27 October 2010. The figures run from 2005-06 to 2009-10 as of 31 March 2010.
	http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2011/DEP2011-0045.pdf

Human Trafficking

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people referred to the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking are being accommodated in the prison estate.

Damian Green: There are currently nine people in the prison estate whose case is in the process of being considered within the National Referral Mechanism.
	Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors must consider a range of circumstances to conclude whether the public interest is best served in continuing the prosecution of defendants charged with offences who might be trafficked victims. Where the potential victim of trafficking raises trafficking for the first time when in prison, it is open to their legal representative to make an application to the courts for leave to appeal conviction and sentence.

Human Trafficking: EU Law

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to transpose into UK law the provisions of the EU directive on human trafficking.

Damian Green: The Government will shortly be applying to the European Commission to formally opt in to the EU directive on human trafficking. If our application is accepted, we will consider the necessary legislative requirements thereafter, subject to the parliamentary timetable.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when she plans to respond to the letter of 4 April 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North about a constituent, reference M7095/11;
	(2)  with reference to the interim reply of 3 May 2011, reference M7095/11, when she plans to provide a substantive response to the letter of 4 April 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North;
	(3)  pursuant to the holding replies of 3 May 2011 to question 53790 and 13 May 2011 to question 55441 on ministerial correspondence, when she plans to provide a substantive response to the letter of 4 April 2011, reference M7095/1, from the hon. Member for Walsall North; what the reason is for the continued delay of a substantive reply; and what the average time taken for a ministerial response to letters from hon. Members was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: holding answers 3 May and 13 May 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 31 May 2011. A copy will be placed in the House Library.

Police: Manpower

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers of each rank and (b) sergeants in charge of safer neighbourhood teams were in post in each (i) police authority area and (ii) London borough command area in (A) May 2010 and (B) May 2011; what estimate she has made of the numbers to be in those posts on 1 April 2015; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: Data relating to police officer strength by rank and to police officers predominantly employed in the neighbourhood function as at 31 March 2010 in England and Wales are given in Tables A and B respectively. Figures for Metropolitan and London city police officer strength as at 31 March 2010, by basic command unit (which in London relate to boroughs), are provided on Tables C and D respectively. The information on police officer functions and basic command units cannot centrally be broken down by rank.
	The Home Office does not collect data on future estimates of police numbers.
	Police personnel statistics for 31 March 2011 are expected to be published in July 2011.
	
		
			 Table A: Police officer strength as at 31 March 2010, in England and Wales, by police force area and rank, England and Wales 
			 Full-time equivalents  (1) 
			 Police force ACPO rank Chief Superintendent Superintendent Chief Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable Total ranks 
			 Avon and Somerset 6 9 25 52 181 492 2,537 3,302 
			 Bedfordshire 4 5 12 20 64 179 962 1,246 
			 Cambridgeshire 3 7 13 30 88 253 1,077 1,471 
			 Cheshire 4 5 16 26 118 362 1,624 2,155 
			 Cleveland 4 4 10 24 84 247 1,351 1,724 
			 Cumbria 4 4 7 18 59 183 963 1,238 
			 Derbyshire 4 9 15 24 100 313 1,610 2,074 
			 Devon and Cornwall 5 10 34 30 183 609 2,685 3,556 
			 Dorset 4 6 12 25 89 240 1,110 1,486 
			 Durham 3 8 11 17 84 225 1,159 1,507 
			 Essex 5 10 23 44 147 527 2,850 3,606 
			 Gloucestershire 4 7 12 21 67 203 994 1,309 
			 Greater Manchester 6 22 55 101 365 1,169 6,430 8,148 
			 Hampshire 5 13 25 55 194 634 2,821 3,748 
			 Hertfordshire 5 8 17 37 112 328 1,622 2,130 
			 Humberside 4 8 17 32 115 330 1,552 2,058 
			 Kent 7 15 26 69 184 530 2,956 3,787 
			 Lancashire 5 11 21 49 196 620 2,747 3,649 
			 Leicestershire 4 8 14 31 110 373 1,777 2,317 
			 Lincolnshire 3 6 9 12 65 179 932 1,206 
			 London, City of 3 5 11 21 56 144 612 852 
			 Merseyside 6 15 32 58 233 639 3,534 4,516 
			 Metropolitan Police 37 86 217 475 1,695 6,069 24,788 33,367 
			 Norfolk 5 7 15 17 97 284 1,236 1,662 
			 Northamptonshire 4 6 13 25 67 220 1,008 1,343 
			 Northumbria 5 13 31 51 174 600 3,314 4,187 
			 North Yorkshire 4 5 10 16 83 250 1,118 1,486 
			 Nottinghamshire 4 9 21 37 126 410 1,802 2,409 
			 South Yorkshire 4 11 25 38 155 459 2,260 2,953 
			 Staffordshire 4 7 16 27 97 377 1,634 2,161 
			 Suffolk 4 4 12 25 76 223 902 1,246 
			 Surrey 4 12 18 32 107 286 1,430 1,890 
			 Sussex 5 11 16 53 184 543 2,401 3,213 
			 Thames Valley 4 11 35 59 204 685 3,437 4,434 
			 Warwickshire 4 4 11 15 51 135 753 973 
			 West Mercia 5 10 14 35 122 408 1,797 2,391 
			 West Midlands 6 27 44 73 360 1,156 6,960 8,626 
			 West Yorkshire 6 20 42 79 289 809 4,513 5,758 
		
	
	
		
			 Wiltshire 4 6 10 18 73 196 875 1,181 
			 Dyfed-Powys 3 6 9 17 67 190 903 1,195 
			 Gwent 3 5 13 20 77 228 1,091 1,437 
			 North Wales 4 5 19 17 81 279 1,185 1,590 
			 South Wales 6 13 22 52 179 520 2,355 3,148 
			 Total of all 43 forces 223 473 1,029 1,974 7,258 23,109 109,669 143,734 
			 (1) This table contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items 
		
	
	
		
			 Table B: Police officers predominantly employed in neighbourhood  (1, 2)   functions (FTE)  (3, 4)   in England and Wales as at 31 March 2010 
			  Number of police officers 
			 Avon and Somerset 293 
			 Bedfordshire 100 
			 Cambridgeshire 166 
			 Cheshire 468 
			 Cleveland 251 
			 Cumbria (5)— 
			 Derbyshire 186 
			 Devon and Cornwall 334 
			 Dorset 138 
			 Durham 170 
			 Dyfed-Powys 79 
			 Essex 486 
			 Gloucestershire 97 
			 Greater Manchester 992 
			 Gwent 363 
			 Hampshire 469 
			 Hertfordshire 239 
			 Humberside 142 
			 Kent 325 
			 Lancashire 376 
			 Leicestershire 348 
			 Lincolnshire 96 
			 London, City of 65 
			 Merseyside 739 
			 Metropolitan Police 895 
			 Norfolk 337 
			 Northamptonshire 213 
			 Northumbria 573 
			 North Wales 164 
			 North Yorkshire (5)— 
			 Nottinghamshire 312 
			 South Wales 390 
			 South Yorkshire6 345 
			 Staffordshire 309 
			 Suffolk 138 
			 Surrey 185 
			 Sussex 251 
			 Thames Valley 484 
			 Warwickshire 157 
			 West Mercia 283 
			 West Midlands 1782 
			 West Yorkshire 1871 
			 Wiltshire 29 
			 (1 )Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual chief constables. (2 )In 2008-09 ‘Foot/Car/Beat/Patrol’ was replaced by ‘Neighbourhoods’ and ‘Response’. (3 )This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (4 )Available information on functions cannot be centrally broken down by rank. (5 )Data not available centrally. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table C: Police officer strength  (1, 2)   Metropolitan police force area, by Basic Command Unit, 31 March 2010  (1) 
			  Number of officers 
			 Barking and Dagenham 448 
			 Barnet 596 
			 Bexley 406 
			 Brent 712 
			 Bromley 524 
			 Camden 889 
			 City of Westminster 1,656 
			 Croydon 755 
			 Ealing 728 
			 Enfield 601 
			 Greenwich 711 
			 Hackney 784 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 600 
			 Haringey 734 
			 Harrow 404 
			 Havering 395 
			 Hillingdon 526 
			 Hounslow 540 
			 Islington 719 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 579 
			 Kingston upon Thames 337 
			 Lambeth 1,042 
			 Lewisham 691 
			 Merton 396 
			 Newham 826 
			 Redbridge 502 
			 Richmond upon Thames 335 
			 Southwark 964 
			 Sutton 356 
			 Tower Hamlets 829 
			 Waltham Forest 578 
			 Wandsworth 619 
			 Heathrow 461 
		
	
	
		
			 Central Services 12,126 
			 Total 33,367 
			 (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number, due to rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of constituent items. Figures include those officers on career breaks. (2) Available information on Basic Command Units cannot be centrally broken down by rank. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table D: Police officer strength  (1, 2)  , City of London police force area, by Basic Command Unit, 31 March 20101 
			  Number of officers 
			 City of London Police 308 
			 Central Services 544 
			 Total 852

Police: Termination of Employment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, column 422W, on police: termination of employment, what regulation required police forces to issue leavers with a certificate showing (a) final rank and (b) the period of service in that force and in any other force prior to the enactment of Regulation 17 of the Police Regulations 2003.

Nick Herbert: The equivalent provision that was in effect immediately before the commencement of Regulation 17 of the Police Regulations 2003 was Regulation 19 of the Police Regulations 1995, which came into force on 8 March 1995 and was revoked by the 2003 Regulations with effect from 1 April 2003.

Public Houses: Crime

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions police officers attended incidents at (a) pubs, (b) night clubs and (c) non-profit making private members' clubs in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties

Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many graduated fixed penalty notices for foreign vehicles have been issued by the Central Roads Policing Department in (a) Kent and (b) Shepway district in the last 12 months.

Nick Herbert: The requested data are not collected centrally. While data on fixed penalty notices are collected and published in chapter 3 of the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures”, data that identify foreign vehicles are not part of that collection.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Fossil Fuels

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Wimbledon of 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 10W, on fossil fuels, what proportion of UK energy demand has been met from fossil fuel sources in each year since 2008.

Charles Hendry: The volume and proportion of UK energy demand met from fossil fuel sources since 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Million tonnes of oil equivalent 
			  2008 2009 2010 
			  Volume Proportion (percentage) Volume Proportion (percentage) Volume Proportion (percentage) 
			 Coal 38.0 16.9 31.2 14.8 32.4 14.9 
			 Petroleum 75.1 33.3 71.2 33.7 70.5 32.4 
			 Natural gas 93.0 41.3 85.9 40.7 93.1 42.8 
			 Total all fossil fuels 206.1 91.4 188.3 89.2 195,9 90.0 
		
	
	Figures for 2008 were revised in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2010 and therefore differ from those provided in the answer given on 8 March 2010, Official Report, column 10W.

Natural Gas: Exploration

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent advice he has received on the effect of hydraulic fracturing in the production of shale gas on levels of water pollution.

Charles Hendry: The UK has a long history of onshore gas exploration, the technology—including hydraulic fracturing—is understood and there is a strong regulatory safety and environmental regime in place administered by the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities and the respective environmental agencies to ensure that potential risks to safety or the environment are properly managed.
	In relation to the current shale gas drilling operations I understand that the Environment Agency does not consider that these pose a risk to the environment—including to water resources.

Natural Gas: Exploration

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will review the implications of recent seismic tremors near Blackpool for his policy on onshore drilling for unconventional gas.

Charles Hendry: Following the recent seismic tremors, the Department had discussions with the operator, Cuadrilla, and agreed that a pause in operations is appropriate so that a better understanding can be gained of the cause of the seismic events experienced in Poulton-le-Fylde. A geomechanical study is being undertaken, along with further work by the British Geological Survey and Keele university. The implications of this information will be reviewed before any resumption of hydraulic fracture operations is approved.

Natural Gas: Exploration

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 5 April 2011, Official Report, column 885W, on natural gas: exploration, if he will meet (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the environment agencies to discuss the implications for unconventional gas extraction of recent seismic tremors reported near Blackpool.

Charles Hendry: The Department is involved in a continuous dialogue with the HSE and environment agencies in relation to unconventional gas extraction in the UK. A geomechanical study is being undertaken to look at the recent seismic tremors near Blackpool. The results of the study will be considered by the Department in consultation with the HSE and environment agencies.

Offshore Industry

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what representations he has received from oil and gas companies on levels of production in the UK Continental Shelf in each of the next four financial years;
	(2)  what evidence he has received from oil and gas companies on levels of production in the UK Continental Shelf in each of the next four financial years;
	(3)  if he will estimate the level of imports into the United Kingdom of (a) oil and (b) gas in each of the next four financial years.

Charles Hendry: The Department regularly receives detailed field-by-field data on current and forecast production from the current operators of each field. Based on the data received, twice a year the Department produces and publishes projections of oil and gas production by calendar year; estimates are not made for financial years. Tables and charts showing the Department's latest projections are at:
	https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/information/bb_updates/chapters/Section4_17.htm
	The table at the end of the note includes estimates of net oil and gas imports each year.

Offshore Industry: Taxation

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether discussions at (a) ministerial and (b) official level were held between his Department and the Treasury prior to the announcement of changes to the oil and gas tax regime in the 2011 Budget.

Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), and I have regular discussions with Treasury colleagues on a range of issues, and officials have regular contacts with their opposite numbers.

Ofgem

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 19 May 2011, Official Report, columns 26-28WS, on the Ofgem review: summary of conclusions, what consideration he has given to the merits of setting energy efficiency as a strategic goal to which Ofgem should contribute.

Charles Hendry: The content of the new Strategy and Policy Statement, including the policy outcomes that Ofgem should contribute to, will be considered as part of a formal drafting process. This will include consultation with all interested parties.

Ofgem

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 19 May 2011, Official Report, columns 26-28WS, on the Ofgem Review: summary of conclusions, what timetable he has set for the development of his strategic policy framework for the energy sector.

Charles Hendry: The new strategy and policy statement will require primary legislation before it can come into force. We will therefore introduce it as soon as parliamentary time allows.

HEALTH

Care Quality Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average caseload was of compliance inspectors in the Care Quality Commission as at 1 April (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Simon Burns: The following information has been provided by the Care Quality Commission:
	The average caseload was around 50 locations per compliance inspector as at 1 April 2010.
	The average caseload was 62 locations per compliance inspector as at 1 April 2011.
	Note
	Figures based on filled posts which is an interim position pending recruitment.

Care Quality Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) highest and (b) lowest caseload was of a compliance inspector in the Care Quality Commission as at 1 April 2011.

Simon Burns: The following information has been provided by the Care Quality Commission:
	The highest of the average regional caseloads of compliance inspectors was 70 locations(1) as at 1 April 2011.
	The lowest of the average regional caseloads of compliance inspectors was 56 locations(1) as at l April 2011.
	Regional case loads expressed are averages. On 1 April London had an average caseload of 70 locations per inspector, which was the highest. The lowest average caseload for a region was 56 in the east midlands.
	(1) Figures based on filled posts which is an interim position pending recruitment.

Care Quality Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices the Care Quality Commission will be responsible for regulation of from 2012; and what estimate the Care Quality Commission has made of the number of additional registration assessors and compliance inspectors that will be required to deal with any new work.

Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) estimates that approximately 8,500 general practitioner practices will be required to register with the Commission.
	In terms of delivering its regulatory functions, the CQC is an independent body and it is therefore for the CQC to determine the staffing complement it requires in order to carry out its functions efficiently and effectively.
	The following information has been provided by the CQC:
	The CQC is currently reviewing its core processes with a view to refining its methods, guidance and processes in the light of experience and lessons learned from 1 April 2010 to date. The CQC therefore anticipates that some of the ways in which it regulates in respect of methods and guidance will change following completion of this review. It is not possible to estimate numbers of registration assessors and compliance inspectors that will be needed in the future until completion of this review.
	The CQC's priority remains that, where it has evidence of a risk to quality and safety, it will deploy resources to react swiftly and take appropriate action.

Care Quality Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days training on the new regulation methodology Care Quality Commission assessors and inspectors have received on average; and what evaluation the Care Quality Commission has made of the quality of such training.

Simon Burns: The following information has been provided by the Care Quality Commission (CQC):
	From April 2010 to date, compliance inspectors received an average of 22 days training. Registration assessors received an average of 17 days.
	Managers have pre-training discussions with their staff to agree training objectives. Following training, the CQC's Learning and Development team receives feedback from trainers, staff and managers on the content, relevance and presentation of training.
	Following training, staff take learning back into the work place as practical application. Changes and improvements to practice are monitored through performance and development review, and staff 1:1 processes. Additional support for the practical application of training is provided through peer group discussions about best practice and application and a local buddy system. Work is nationally and locally quality checked against standards.
	The CQC has made improvements to the process for obtaining feedback on training through performance and development review discussions, and to identify the training gaps that exist.

Care Quality Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what professional support he expects the Care Quality Commission inspectors to receive from (a) dental and (b) medical advisors to assist them in inspecting dental and GP services.

Simon Burns: In terms of delivering its regulatory functions, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent body and it is therefore responsible for determining what professional support and input are required in order to undertake its functions efficiently and effectively.
	The following information has been provided by the CQC:
	The CQC has access to a team of national professional advisers and policy experts who work across a range of types of health and social care services. This team includes a variety of clinical and social care professionals and those with policy expertise in a variety of areas. National professional advisors include a general practitioner (GP), a surgeon, a nurse (who also covers midwifery), a radiologist, a dentist, and a social care professional.
	The dental practitioner acts as an adviser for the development of training and is available for post-training advice and support.
	The GP is currently involved in the planning and development of training for sector overview, registration and monitoring of compliance. Further GP involvement regarding post-training advice and support has not been determined as yet.
	National professional advisers support compliance inspectors and are often involved in the planning for site visits. They also play an important role in the CQC assurance processes, including the monthly outliers panel and the Safeguarding Committee.
	In the event that the CQC does not have the relevant expertise, the national professional advisors will seek to identify an external expert through contacts such as the relevant Royal Colleges.

Care Quality Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many site inspections the Care Quality Commission carried out in each quarter of the year to 1 April 2011; and what estimate the Care Quality Commission has made of the number of site inspections it will carry out in each quarter of 2011-12.

Simon Burns: The following information has been provided by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
	The following table shows the number of site visits completed by the CQC in each quarter of the financial year April 2010 to March 2011. The CQC brought forward a number of inspections into quarter 1 in order to have accurate information for the registration of services under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Site visits undertaken on a risk basis to check declarations made during the registration process may not be captured in the table.
	
		
			 Period Number of site visits 
			 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2010 3,570 
			 1 July 2010 to 30 September 2010 353 
			 1 October 2010 to 31 December 2010 570 
			 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2011 1,972 
			 Total 6,465 
		
	
	The CQC’s methodology does not prescribe a set frequency for visits. In line with the principles of risk-based regulation, the CQC carries out visits in line with its judgment of risk when these are the most effective way of gathering information about compliance. This means the CQC targets its resources on providers where the risk is highest, while reducing the regulatory burden on providers where the risk is low.
	Across its regulatory scope, the CQC has capacity to undertake 15,000 to 20,000 responsive reviews over a one-year period, the vast majority of which it anticipates to include a site visit. This does not reflect the full extent of its site visit regime.
	Site visits will therefore take place wherever necessary and it is not possible to predict the number which will take place in each quarter of the year 2011 to 2012.

Care Quality Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the potential effects on (a) patients and (b) service users and (c) the public of the Care Quality Commission's plans to reduce the number of planned reviews it carries out.

Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for delivering its regulatory functions and determining what reviews it needs to undertake for the purposes of carrying out these functions.
	The following information has been provided by the CQC.
	The CQC undertook 1,411 compliance reviews (956 planned and 455 responsive) between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011. The CQC has not announced plans to reduce the number of planned reviews.
	Implementation of the new registration system has resulted in lower levels of reviews for a period as resources have been concentrated on bringing providers (particularly national health service and primary dental care providers) into the new regulatory framework.
	The CQC expects general practitioner registration to have an impact on the number of reviews undertaken but anticipates having a clearer picture by the end of the current operating year (ending 31 March 2012) of the level at which reviews will settle.
	The CQC's priority remains that where it has evidence of a risk compromising quality and safety, it will deploy resources to react swiftly and take appropriate action.

Health and Social Care Bill

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit Brighton Pavilion constituency to hear the views of members of the public on the Health and Social Care Bill at a public meeting.

Simon Burns: In April 2011, the Government announced that they would take advantage of a natural break in the legislative process to ‘pause, listen, and reflect’on people's concerns with a view to bringing forward improvements to the Health and Social Care Bill.
	As part of the listening exercise the health ministerial team along with members of the NHS Future Forum, have visited every region in the country to listen to views of the public, staff and patients. Members of the public have also been able to have their say via the NHS modernisation website:
	http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/
	We do not have any immediate plans to visit the Brighton area to discuss the Health and Social Care Bill in the coming weeks.

Sexual Assault

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sexual assault referral centres there are in (a) England and (b) North Yorkshire.

Anne Milton: There are 31 sexual assault referral centres in England. Three more are planned to open this year. A further nine are under development in a number of police force areas, including one in North Yorkshire.

Air Ambulance Services

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on support for air ambulance services.

Simon Burns: The Department recognises that air ambulances play an important role in delivering emergency care, especially in rural areas and where road access is a problem. The air ambulances that operate across the country provide an effective means of ensuring better and faster access to hospitals and of supporting transfers between hospitals.
	However, the Department works on the basis that NHS services are best provided and managed by commissioners and providers locally, working closely with their clinicians and key partners, with central Government intervening only when there is a clear need for national action. We believe that the local national health service is in the best position to make decisions about pre-hospital care in each area, including the use and funding of air ambulances.

Community Hospitals: Eltham

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects the contract to build a new community hospital in Eltham to be let for tender; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what date he has set for the opening of a new community hospital in Eltham; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will assess the effects of staffing reductions at Greenwich Teaching Primary Care Trust on the ability of the Trust to (a) plan, monitor and develop health services in the borough and (b) progress development of a new community hospital in Eltham; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: It is for the local national health service to plan and provide services to meet the health needs of its local population. NHS London advises my officials that Greenwich Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) is currently working with its construction partner the Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich construction company to prepare a Stage 1 Outline Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) business case for approval both by the Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Committee and joint PCT boards in July 2011. I understand that the local NHS will be keeping the hon. Member informed of progress and is happy to answer any questions he has regarding this project.

Dental Health: Children

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in improving children's dental health in (a) England and (b) Northamptonshire since May 2010.

Simon Burns: We are committed to introducing a new dental contract based on capitation, registration and quality, with the aim of improving oral health, especially that of children. Dental contract pilots, which will test aspects of the new contract, are about to become operational. In addition, to reinforce the benefits of the contractual changes, we are exploring how general dental practices can develop closer links to primary schools, and we have included rates of dental decay among five year old children in “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: proposals for a public health outcomes framework”. Dental practices in Northamptonshire, where there is already support on oral health promotion for children and young adults, will be well placed to take advantage of these changes.

Diabetic Specialist Nurses

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of diabetic specialist nurses under his proposed reforms to the NHS;
	(2)  how many diabetic specialist nurses were employed by the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The current number of diabetic specialist nurses employed by the national health service is not collected centrally.
	It is for local NHS organisations, with their knowledge of the health needs of their local population to train and recruit the staff needed to best meet these needs.
	We do hold information on the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health—visiting staff employed by the NHS, which is available from the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care annual workforce census, however the speciality requested is not collected separately.
	The Centre for Workforce Intelligence has been commissioned by the Department to undertake a review of non-medical speciality training later this year. This will look at demand and supply modelling at a national level for each non-medical speciality.
	On the 6 April, the Prime Minister launched the NHS Listening Exercise, one of the focuses of which was education and training. This is an opportunity to pause, listen, reflect and improve the NHS reforms. The Government will respond to this in due course.

Epilepsy: Research

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research to examine the reasons for the difference between the rate of the UK and the median rate for the EU-15 in respect of epilepsy mortality.

Paul Burstow: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is responsible for the funding of medical research in the United Kingdom. Working through its council, scientific boards, and committees, the MRC is independent in its choice of which research to support. Research proposals are stringently peer reviewed by a core of scientific experts and other external expert referees both in the UK and abroad.

General Practitioners

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure meetings and decisions taken by GP commissioners are open and transparent to the public following the implementations of his NHS reforms.

Simon Burns: Subject to the passing of the Health and Social Care Bill, and the outcome of the current listening exercise, we propose that the constitution of each commissioning consortium should set out its arrangements for decision-making and managing potential conflicts of interest. General practitioner (GP) consortia would also be required to hold an annual general meeting and this would be open to anyone.
	We also propose clear statutory duties on commissioners in relation to procurement and in relation to anti-competitive behaviours. A clear set of underpinning rules and guidance would be developed to apply to GP consortia, so that they have the necessary support to make decisions that are fair and transparent and avoid any perceived conflicts of interest.

General Practitioners

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to address any inequality between urban and rural provision of medical and care services when establishing GP consortia.

Simon Burns: Subject to the passing of the Health and Social Care Bill and the outcome of the current listening exercise, there will be a duty on the NHS Commissioning Board and commissioning consortia that they must in the exercise of their functions have regard to the need to reduce inequalities between patients in access to health services and in the outcomes achieved from health services.
	In addition, the NHS Commissioning Board will take over responsibility for the allocation of resources from the Department. It would be for the Board to decide how best to allocate resources in a way that supports the principle of securing equivalent access to NHS services relative to the prospective burden of disease and disability.
	During the transition to the Board, the Secretary of State for Health has asked the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), an independent committee comprising general practitioners, academics and NHS managers, to continue to oversee the formulae for the distribution of NHS resources. ACRA's work programme will include consideration of the issue of rurality in light of the move to allocations to commissioning consortia.

General Practitioners: Telephone Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of compliance by general practitioners with his Department's guidance on the use of premium line telephone numbers for use by patients; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department has made no assessment of the level of compliance of the Directions regarding the use of 084 numbers in the national health service. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that local practices are compliant with the Directions and guidance.

General Practitioners: Telephone Services

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to GPs on the use of 0844 numbers for patients seeking appointments; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department issued guidance and directions to the national health service on 21 December 2009 which stated NHS bodies and general practitioner practices should not enter into new, renew, or extend, contracts for telephone services unless they can be satisfied that patients will not pay more than they would to make equivalent calls to a geographical number.
	It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that local practices are compliant with the directions and guidance.

HealthWatch: Freedom of Information

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons local HealthWatch bodies are not to be covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Subject to the parliamentary process, local HealthWatch organisations will be public-facing bodies and will need to be transparent to its local communities. The Department is considering adding local HealthWatch organisations to the schedule of the Freedom of Information Act.

Hospitals: Consultants

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to put in place arrangements to ensure NHS consultants are prevented from establishing their own companies as part of his NHS reforms.

Simon Burns: We have no such plans. National health service consultants are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct for Private Practice, which includes provisions governing the relationship between NHS work and other work.

Injuries: Young People

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in implementing the draft guidance developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on strategies to prevent unintentional injuries among children and young people aged under 15.

Anne Milton: The Department of Health is developing policies that will contribute to injury prevention. These will be developed in partnership with other Departments and organisations. For example, the Department for Education has recently announced the funding of Safe Network, a consortium including the Child Accident Prevention Trust, to provide advice and assistance on the full range of safeguarding issues, including injury prevention.
	The “Healthy Child programme: Pregnancy and the first five years of life” includes training for families on the correct use of basic safety equipment and to raise awareness of accident prevention in the home and safety in cars. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
	The Department for Transport has also published a new Strategic Framework for Road Safety on 11 May 2011 which sets out the way forward for road safety over the coming years. It covers all road users including children.

James Kingsland

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the work conducted by Dr James Kingsland for his Department is subject to a contractual agreement.

Simon Burns: Dr James Kingsland has undertaken work under contract with the Department as lead for the National Clinical Commissioning Network, which has focused on practice-based commissioning and the proposed commissioning reforms.

Lung Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chest x-rays were requested by GPs for the purposes of diagnosis of suspected lung cancer (a) in each primary care trust and (b) in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what proportion of such x-rays confirmed the diagnosis.

Paul Burstow: The information requested is not centrally held. Currently the Department collects only annual data on the total numbers of x-rays undertaken, broken down by provider. As set out in “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, the Department is currently working to develop a new data collection which will include the collection of data on the number of chest x-rays requested by general practitioners.

Lung Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the 30-day mortality rate for patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer who received a major surgical resection was (a) in respect of each provider, (b) in each cancer network and (c) in each strategic health authority in the last five years for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: The information requested is not centrally held. The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) recently conducted a study of the 30-day mortality rates for patients with a diagnosis of bowel cancer who received a major surgical resection. Further information about the study is available on the NCIN website at:
	www.ncin.org.uk/cancer_type_and_topic_specific_work/cancer_type_specific_work/postoperative_mortality.aspx
	Following this analysis of the 30-day postoperative mortality for bowel cancer, the NCIN proposes to work with clinical leads across all tumour sites to see where this study can be repeated.

National Association of Primary Care

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on the National Association of Primary Care of the work of Dr James Kingsland for his Department.

Simon Burns: The Department has not assessed the effects on the National Association of Primary Care of the work of Dr James Kingsland for the Department.

National Association of Primary Care

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Association of Primary Care has received any funding from his Department in the last 18 months for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The National Association of Primary Care has received funding from the Department in the last 18 months for a range of projects and sponsorships including those aimed at improving engagement with frontline clinicians.

National Clinical Director

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will appoint a national clinical director for allied health professionals with responsibilities equivalent to those of the Director of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill published on 19 January 2011 sets out details about the membership of the NHS Commissioning Board. We are using the natural break in the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill to pause, listen, reflect on, and improve national health service modernisation plans.
	The Board itself will determine its own appointments but will include people with a range of skills and experience.

National Commissioning Board

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to enable the expertise of allied health professionals to be available to the National Commissioning Board.

Simon Burns: As part of the NHS listening exercise, we are considering clinical input to commissioning at all levels, including the NHS Commissioning Board. Both the report of the Future Forum and the Government response will be published in due course.

Neuromuscular Services

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress has been made by the NHS South East Coast Specialised Commissioning Group in reviewing neuromuscular services in the region; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: This is a matter for the national health service locally. We have been advised by the South East Coast strategic health authority that the South East Coast Specialised Commissioning Group (SECSCG), which commissions neuromuscular services on behalf of the region, has now completed its review. The review's findings have been published in a report entitled “Better Co-ordination; Better Care—A review of services for people with Neuromuscular Conditions in the South East Coast” which is available on the SECSCG's website at:
	www.secscg.nhs.uk/home/news
	Following the review, initiatives are underway throughout the South East Coast region to implement its recommendations. These include programmes to improve access to, and join up, services for people with neuromuscular disease. Work is also underway to provide a care pathway coordinator post to provide advice and information for patients and carers, by September 2011.

NHS: Negligence

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Litigation Authority paid (a) on average to successful claimants (i) in total and (ii) for medical reports in cases of clinical negligence in each of the last three years and (b) on average in respect of its own costs (A) in total and (B) in respect of medical reports in each such year.

Simon Burns: The information to show how much the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) paid on average to successful claimants in total in cases of clinical negligence in each of the last three years and on average in respect of its own costs in total is in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims closed with damages 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			 £ 
			 Year of closure Damages paid Average damages Defence costs paid Average defence costs Clamant costs paid Average claimant costs 
			 2008-09 278,038,411 93,114 35,916,879 12,028 95,911,592 32,120 
			 2009-10 267,332,564 71,137 38,491,431 10,243 112,528,769 29,944 
			 2010-11 499,478,033 94,976 59,664,874 11,345 192,481,953 36,600 
			 Total 1,044,849,007 87,049 134,073,184 11,170 400,922,313 33,402 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			 £ 
			 Year of settlement Total damages Average damages Defence costs paid Average defence costs Clamant costs paid Average claimant costs 
			 2008-09 552,136,757 4,214,784 17,207,984 131,359 38,403,070 293,153 
			 2009-10 504,736,479 3,943,254 13,712,666 107,130 34,043,228 265,963 
			 2010-11 547,337,006 4,210,285 12,830,840 98,699 21,748,248 167,294 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 1,604,210,242 4,123,934 43,751,490 112,472 94,194,546 242,145 
			 Notes: 1. Periodical payment orders (PPOs) that have ongoing payments have been included separately and the figure provided is as though they were settled on a lump sum basis. 2. Some of the defence costs and claimant costs not have been finalised yet and so the costs, payment figures and average costs payment figures may be understated. 3. It is not possible to show specific costs for medical records as the NHSLA does not record costs in this level of detail. Source: National Health Service Litigation Authority (May 2011)

NHS: Negligence

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many settled claims funded by legal aid and brought against the NHS Litigation Authority were brought on behalf of a minor in each of the last three years; what proportion of all legally-aided claims that figure represents in each such year; and how much was paid out (a) in total and (b) on average in each such year.

Simon Burns: The information to show how many settled claims funded by legal aid and brought against the NHS Litigation Authority that were brought on behalf of a minor in each of the last three years is in the following tables:
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid closed 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor as % of all legally aided claims 
			 Year of closure Settled nil damages Settled with damages Total Settled nil damages Settled with damages Total Settled nil damages Settled with damages Total 
			 2008-09 244 313 557 598 994 1,592 41 31 35 
			 2009-10 251 349 600 573 1,068 1,641 44 33 37 
			 2010-11 264 454 718 629 1,373 2,002 42 33 36 
			 Total 759 1416 1,875 1,800 3,435 5,235 42 32 36 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid and settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			 Year of settlement Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor as % of all legally aided claims 
			 2008-09 104 126 83 
			 2009-10 100 107 93 
			 2010-11 101 116 87 
			 Total 305 349 87 
		
	
	
		
			 Total value of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid closed 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims 
			 Year of closure Number settled with damages Total payments (damages + costs) (£) Average total payments (£) Number   settled with damages Total payments (damages + costs) (£) Average total payments (£) 
			 2008-09 313 144,984,359 463,209 994 242,190,356 243,652 
			 2009-10 349 106,465,010 305,057 1,068 196,185,439 183,694 
			 2010-11 454 193,153,391 425,448 1,373 376,956,348 274,549 
			 Total 1,116 444,602,760 398,390 3,435 815,332,143 237,360 
		
	
	
		
			 Total value of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid and settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims 
			 Year of settlement Number of claims Total damages + costs paid (£) Average total damages + costs paid (£) Number of claims Total damages + costs paid (£) Average total damages + costs paid (£) 
			 2008-09 104 521,565,382 5,015,052 126 579,971,849 4,602,951 
			 2009-10 100 475,373,847 4,753,738 107 492,964,405 4,607,144 
			 2010-11 101 507,527,119 5,025,021 116 547,988,200 4,724,036 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 305 1,504,466,348 4,932,677 349 1,620,924,454 4,644,483 
			 Note: For periodical payment orders (PPOs) total damages have been added as if the claim had settled on a lump sum basis to the actual costs payments. Source: National Health Service Litigation Authority (May 2011)

NHS: Negligence

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Litigation Authority paid in damages to successful claimants in each of the last three years; and how many and what proportion of cases in which the authority paid damages to claimants in each such year were settled or lost (a) at trial and (b) within six weeks of trial.

Simon Burns: The information to show how much the NHS Litigation Authority paid in damages to successful claimants in each of the last three years is in the following tables.
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims closed with damages 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			 Year of closure Number of claims Damages paid (£) 
			 2008-09 2,986 278,038,411 
			 2009-10 3,758 267,332,564 
			 2010-11 5,259 499,478,033 
			 Total 12,003 1,044,849,007 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			 Year of settlement Number of claims Total d  amages(£  ) 
			 2008-09 131 552,136,757 
			 2009-10 128 504,736,479 
			 2010-11 130 547,337,006 
			 Total 389 1,604,210,242 
			 Notes: 1. Data in relation to how many and what proportion of cases in which the authority paid damages to claimants in each year were settled or lost (a) at trial and (b) within six weeks of trial can be provided only at disproportionate cost. 2. Data on damages pertaining to date of settlement can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Source: NHS Litigation Authority May 2011

NHS: Negligence

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of (a) all legally aided claims and (b) all claims brought by minors were made to the NHS Litigation Authority on behalf of a minor and funded through legal aid in each of the last three years.

Simon Burns: Information on legally aided claims brought by minors as a percentage of all legally aided claims received by year is shown in the following table provided by the NHS Litigation Authority.
	
		
			 Number of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid received 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor as percentage of all legally aided claims 
			 2008-09 520 1,532 34 
			 2009-10 446 1,341 33 
			 2010-11 414 1,333 31 
			 Total 1,380 4,206 33 
			 Source: National Health Service Litigation Authority (May 2011)

NHS: Negligence

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in legal costs by the NHS Litigation Authority to successful claimants in each of the last three years; what proportion of such payments were in respect of (a) base claimants' costs, (b) success fees and (c) disbursements in each such year; and in respect of the cases in which claimants costs were paid in each of the last three years, what the number and proportion of cases that were settled or lost (i) at trial and (ii) within six weeks of trial as a proportion of cases in which the Authority paid costs to claimants in each of those years.

Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NHS: Personal Injury Claims

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total recovered by the NHS was in respect of recovery of treatment costs in personal injury claims for each case type in each of the last three financial years; how many cases this represented in each case type in each such year; and what the total costs were that were not recovered as a result of the maximum cap on recovery.

Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following tables:
	
		
			 1:   NHS Recoveries by liability type 
			 £ 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Clinical negligence 180,440 607,134 1,341,236 
			 Employer 5,960,820 13,661,251 17,710,402 
			 Motor 123,351,651 130,673,295 131,352,977 
			 Other 225,610 340,993 581,020 
			 Public 5,259,012 12,633,411 18,012,614 
			 Liability not yet known 23,091 62,137 51,933 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 135,000,624 157,978,221 169,050,181 
		
	
	
		
			 2:   Volume of NHS Recovery payments by liability type 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Clinical negligence 64 218 475 
			 Employer 7,636 15,942 20,171 
			 Motor 145,564 151,439 147,244 
			 Other 161 324 467 
			 Public 6,354 13,962 18,947 
			 Liability not yet known 25 63 71 
			 Total 159,804 181,948 187,375 
		
	
	
		
			 3:   Total costs not recovered as a result of the maximum cap on recovery 
			  £ 
			 2008-09 10,500,891 
			 2009-10 9,827,847 
			 2010-11 10,153,651 
			 Notes: 1. and 2. The data reflect the total value of NHS Recoveries (including Ambulance Charges) received by the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) relating to the NHS Injury Costs Recovery scheme for Trusts in England between 1 April 2008—31 March 2011 and the volume of cases these recoveries relate to. More than one payment may be received per case and each is counted separately. Cases where no payment was made are not included. Data are shown by year of payment. 3. The data reflect the total In Patient costs that were not recovered as a result of the maximum cap on recovery relating to Trusts in England. This reflects cases where a final settlement has been received within the relevant financial year, the NHS charges have been fully recovered, the maximum cap has been reached and the difference between the overall treatment costs and recovery value calculated.

NHS Chaplaincy Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future of NHS chaplaincy services.

Paul Burstow: The Department recognises the important role played by chaplains in supporting the national health service to deliver patient-centred services. The second phase of the independent Palliative Care Funding Review has asked for views on which core components of dedicated palliative care, including spiritual care, should be funded, wholly or partly, by the NHS as a statutory responsibility and which by society. Ministers will consider the recommendations of the review when they receive its final report, which is expected this summer.

Passive Smoking: Children

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to protect children from exposure to passive smoke.

Anne Milton: The Government's Tobacco Control Plan for England, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England”, published on 9 March 2011, sets out a range of Government action, including action to protect children from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
	Although the exposure of children to second-hand tobacco smoke has come down in recent years, we want this to reduce further. We want smokers to change their behaviour so as to make sure that they do not harm those around them, particularly children exposed to second-hand in the home or in family cars. We will work with national media to raise awareness of the risks in exposing children to second-hand smoke.
	The Department's new marketing strategy for tobacco control, which will be published this summer, will set out further details of how we will support efforts to encourage people to recognise the risks of second-hand smoke and to make their homes and private cars smokefree.
	A copy of the Tobacco Control Plan has already been placed in the Library.

Primary Care Trusts: Manpower

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed in each primary care trust in (a) administrative and (b) frontline service posts in (i) May 2010 and (ii) May 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The following table gives the number of staff in the groups requested in 2010 and 2011. The information was taken from the NHS Information Centres annual workforce census for the years requested.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: NHS staff in England and in primary care trusts (PCTs) by main staff group as at 30 September each specified year  (1) 
			 Headcount 
			   2009 2010 
			   All NHS Staff All frontline staff NHS infrastructure support All NHS Staff All frontline staff NHS infrastructure support 
			 England  1,277,459 1,040,992 236,103 1,176,313 942,615 233,342 
			 of which        
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 5HG 1,720 1,188 532 1,674 1,153 521 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 5C2 722 517 205 153 35 118 
			 Barnet PCT 5A9 1,341 1,022 319 1,261 971 290 
			 Barnsley PCT 5JE 2,368 1,762 605 2,438 1,826 612 
			 Bassetlaw PCT SET 485 336 149 499 347 152 
		
	
	
		
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 5FL 1,140 922 218 1,101 889 212 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 5P2 1,444 1,070 366 1,466 1,079 387 
			 Berkshire East PCT 5QG 1,218 1,059 159 1,212 1,032 180 
			 Berkshire West PCT 5QF 1,681 1,366 315 1,761 1,419 342 
			 Bexley Care Trust TAK 622 501 121 153 27 126 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 5PG 2,290 1,573 717 2,400 1,615 785 
			 Blackpool PCT 5HP 856 657 199 835 619 216 
			 Bolton PCT 5HQ 1,865 1,413 452 1,895 1,423 472 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT SQN 1,212 1,018 190 1,149 981 164 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 5NY 2,561 2,018 542 2,582 2,059 523 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 5K5 864 575 289 873 571 302 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 5LQ 192 12 180 205 15 190 
			 Bristol PCT 5QJ 1,662 1,032 630 1,670 1,014 656 
			 Bromley PCT 5A7 1,182 939 243 1,079 838 241 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 5QD 1,802 1,380 418 340 151 188 
			 Bury PCT 5JX 1,021 668 353 1,009 646 363 
			 Calderdale PCT 5J6 712 461 251 779 504 275 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 5PP 2,914 2,471 436 369 71 298 
			 Camden PCT 5K7 1,381 742 639 1,410 709 701 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 5NP 2,007 1,582 425 1,919 1,547 372 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 5NG 2,849 2,100 749 2,733 1,986 747 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 5C3 1,076 833 243 1,073 794 279 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT SQP 2,760 2,137 603 2,873 2,229 623 
			 County Durham PCT 5ND 687 57 630 503 69 434 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 5MD 1,619 1,261 358 1,665 1,341 324 
			 Croydon PCT 5K9 1,070 738 332 290 79 211 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT 5NE 2,541 1,941 600 2,452 1,887 565 
			 Darlington PCT 5J9 2,719 2,367 352 2,952 2,466 486 
			 Derby City PCT 5N7 1,185 718 467 988 682 306 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 5N6 5,072 3,213 1,856 5,003 3,453 1,548 
			 Devon PCT 5QQ 4,076 3,152 924 3,793 2,838 955 
			 Doncaster PCT 5N5 1,756 1,294 462 1,692 1,206 486 
			 Dorset PCT 5QM 3,037 2,199 838 3,102 2,224 878 
			 Dudley PCT 5PE 1,485 1,036 449 1,478 989 489 
			 Ealing Pa 5HX 1,250 881 369 1,234 879 355 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 5NH 2,729 1,949 780 2,615 1,837 778 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 5NW 1,343 1,083 251 1,263 1,028 229 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 5P7 1,666 1,236 430 1,686 1,220 466 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 5QA 4,196 3,239 957 4,197 3,232 965 
			 Enfield PCT 5C1 966 689 277 900 613 287 
			 Gateshead PCT 5KF 920 782 138 2,706 2,287 419 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 5QH 3,320 2,837 483 3,262 2,813 449 
		
	
	
		
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 5PR 884 683 201 925 738 187 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 5A8 898 690 208 912 601 311 
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 5NM 1,835 1,390 445 1,768 1,311 457 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 659 456 203 209 100 109 
			 Hampshire PCT 5QC 3,774 2,989 785 3,627 2,857 770 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 5C9 775 623 152 830 677 153 
			 Harrow PCT 5K6 546 376 170 535 373 162 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 5P8 899 728 169 944 783 161 
			 Havering PCT 5A4 1,871 1,412 459 1,790 1,393 397 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 5MX 1,489 1,097 392 1,569 1,147 422 
			 Herefordshire PCT 5CN 1,646 1,110 536 1,603 1,258 345 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 5NQ 1,225 907 318 1,182 870 312 
			 Hillingdon PCT 5AT 744 576 168 849 666 183 
			 Hounslow PCT 5HY 656 545 111 117 14 103 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 5NX 1,420 1,038 382 1,095 772 323 
			 Isle of Wight NHS Pa 5QT 3,418 2,902 516 3,499 2,960 539 
			 Islington PCT 5K8 1,101 826 275 1,114 841 273 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT SLA 843 574 269 2,461 2,091 370 
			 Kingston PCT 5A5 594 461 133 99 28 71 
			 Kirklees PCT 5N2 1,653 1,231 422 1,503 1,095 408 
			 Knowsley PCT 5J4 1,189 1,136 342 1,456 1,124 322 
			 Lambeth PCT 5LD 1,047 736 311 1,046 708 338 
			 Leeds PCT 5N1 3,799 2,794 1,005 3,612 2,615 997 
			 Leicester City PCT 5PC 1,477 977 500 1,150 945 205 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 5PA 3,176 2,207 955 3,204 2,151 1,037 
			 Lewisham PCT 5LF 936 697 239 680 468 212 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 5N9 3,050 2,232 797 3,532 2,635 875 
			 Liverpool PCT 5NL 3,223 1,968 1,255 3,109 1,862 1,247 
			 Luton PCT 5GC 734 ¦ 548 175 740 547 1B3 
			 Manchester PCT 5NT 2,893 1,925 968 3,043 2,031 1,012 
			 Medway PCT 5L3 1,609 1,209 400 1,659 1,174 485 
			 Mid Essex PCT 5PX 1,309 997 312 1,293 958 335 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 5KM 255 37 218 219 31 188 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 5CQ 1,543 1,199 344 1,574 1,176 398 
			 Newcastle PCT 5D7 1,646 1,222 424 320 30 290 
			 Newham PCT 5C5 1,303 1,025 278 1,240 951 289 
			 Norfolk Pa 5PQ 3,524 2,893 624 3,235 2,693 539 
			 North East Essex PCT 5PW 1,617 1,267 350 1,304 974 330 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus TAN 1,701 1,258 438 1,602 1,151 446 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT SNF 1,793 1,257 536 2,147 1,652 495 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 5EF 602 481 121 567 441 126 
			 North Somerset PCT 5M8 603 417 186 642 435 207 
		
	
	
		
			 North Staffordshire PCT 5PH 1,301 912 389 1,253 874 379 
			 North Tyneside PCT 5D8 723 652 69 2,175 1,902 273 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 5NV 4,489 3,482 996 4,633 3,655 966 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 5PD 3,466 2,902 549 2,641 2,039 589 
			 Northumberland Care Trust TAC 1,611 1,300 311 1,640 1,306 334 
			 Nottingham City PCT 5EM 1,666 1,297 369 1,665 1,311 354 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 5N8 3,492 2,392 1,092 3,395 2,343 1,044 
			 Oldham PCT 5J5 1,188 878 310 1,263 935 328 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 5QE 2,703 2,332 371 2,810 2,457 353 
			 Peterborough PCT 5PN 1,511 1,189 322 1,444 1,135 309 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 5F1 2,495 1,819 672 2,513 1,829 680 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 5FE 2,813 2,036 777 684 38 646 
			 Redbridge PCT SNA 465 277 188 420 233 187 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 5QR 1,176 1,071 101 1,186 1,064 117 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5M6 645 500 145 1,196 1,019 177 
			 Rotherham PCT 5H8 1,805 1,201 604 1,699 1,154 545 
			 Salford PCT 5F5 1,726 1,202 524 1,829 1,274 555 
			 Sandwell PCT 5PF 1,498 1,046 452 1,423 969 454 
			 Sefton PCT 5NJ 1,566 954 612 1,520 926 594 
			 Sheffield PCT 5N4 2,405 1,947 458 2,432 1,987 445 
			 Shropshire County PCT 5M2 1,261 916 345 1,234 895 339 
			 Solihull Care Trust TAM 1,660 1,344 316 1,698 1,447 251 
			 Somerset PCT 5QL 2,643 1,980 663 2,779 2,093 686 
			 South Birmingham PCT 5M1 3,766 3,020 746 3,753 2,948 805 
			 South East Essex PCT 5P1 1,123 861 254 1,188 884 297 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 5A3 714 575 139 718 581 137 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 5PK 2,469 2,130 339 2,437 2,109 328 
			 South Tyneside PCT 5KG 772 604 168 184 5 179 
			 South West Essex PCT 5PY 2,044 1,664 379 2,123 1,655 468 
			 Southampton City PCT 5L1 1,957 1,725 232 3,990 3,629 361 
			 Southwark PCT 5LE 907 677 230 850 611 239 
			 Stockport PCT 5F7 1,346 892 454 1,274 831 443 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 5E1 187 36 151 214 40 174 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 5PJ 2,034 1,555 479 2,006 1,561 445 
			 Suffolk PCT 5PT 2,133 1,727 400 2,201 1,790 404 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 5KL 1,653 936 717 518 39 479 
			 Surrey PCT 5P5 4,188 3,458 723 3,891 3,169 713 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 5M7 1,130 920 210 1,092 894 198 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 5M7 1,130 920 210 1,092 894 198 
			 Swindon PCT 5K3 897 722 175 811 657 154 
		
	
	
		
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 5LH 1,268 935 333 1,198 890 308 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 5MK 906 549 357 889 553 336 
			 Torbay Care Trust TAL 1,395 971 421 1,340 905 435 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 5C4 2,014 1,514 500 1,889 1,282 607 
			 Trafford Pa 5NR 909 733 176 857 668 189 
			 Wakefield District PCT 5N3 1,647 1,403 244 1,661 1,412 249 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 5M3 1,379 1,023 356 1,363 1,017 346 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 5NC 148 14 134 140 20 120 
			 Wandsworth PCT 5LG 1,635 1,115 520 321 141 180 
			 Warrington Pa 5J2 1,010 800 210 923 733 190 
			 Warwickshire Pa 5PM 1,939 1,454 485 1,967 1,509 458 
			 West Essex Pa 5PV 1,177 876 301 1,206 870 336 
			 West Kent Pa 5P9 2,314 1,665 649 2,245 1,572 673 
			 West Sussex Pa 5P6 3,738 2,632 1,092 3,769 2,657 1,100 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 5NN 1,390 938 452 1,165 770 395 
			 Westminster PCT 5LC 1,211 1,026 185 303 89 214 
			 Wiltshire PCT 5QK 2,277 1,747 530 2,214 1,699 515 
			 Wirral PCT 5NK 1,760 1,295 465 1,745 1,332 413 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 5MV 2,600 1,998 602 2,616 2,035 581 
			 Worcestershire PCT 5PL 2,691 2,212 179 2,689 2,210 479 
			 (1 )The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication here:  www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/010_Workforce/nhsstaff0010/Census_Bulletin_March_2011_Final.pdf  Data are from the annual September Census. Comparable May data are not available for the requested years. Notes:  1. Frontline NHS staff (Including medical and dental staff, nursing staff, ambulance staff and support staff) have some significant contact with patients. Frontline staff excludes NHS infrastructure support staff, who have little significant or no patient contact. A small number of staff whose classification is unknown have also been excluded.  2. NHS infrastructure support staff includes administrative senior managers, managers, clerical staff, human resources, finance, information technology, and other areas of work which do not involve patient contact. Source:  The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.  The NH5 Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

Primary Care Trusts: Manpower

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many former primary care trust employees have been re-employed or redeployed in preparation for the implementation of GP commissioning in each primary care trust area; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Primary care trust (PCT) staff numbers are reducing in accordance with our administrative efficiency targets and the expectation is that these staff will not be re-employed. The impact assessment published alongside the Health and Social Care Bill estimated the numbers of staff likely to be made redundant, the upfront cost of this and the cost-saving in the longer term.
	Should it be necessary to re-employ PCT staff in the interests of service continuity during the transition to general practitioner consortia, any moneys paid under the Mutually Agreed Resignation scheme will be clawed back in accordance with the terms of that scheme.

Special Needs: Health Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new GP consortia will provide annual health checks for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities; what arrangements he plans to put in place to consider the specific health needs of such people; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what arrangements his Department has put in place to ensure that the boards of NHS trusts consider the specific health needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how services will be commissioned for people with complex needs under his Department's proposals for the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Subject to the NHS Listening Exercise and the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will commission national and regional specialised services with commissioning consortia responsible for commissioning other complex services. Through consortia, general practitioners (GPs) and other clinicians will have new opportunities to shape the way that health services are designed and delivered. Taking into account the increasing range of NICE Quality Standards, consortia will work closely with secondary care and other health care professionals, and with community partners, to design joined-up services, and optimal care pathways, that make sense to patients, families and the public. They will have the freedom to seek the commissioning support they need to do this.
	We will ensure that there is particular emphasis within the ‘pathfinder’ programme on testing ways of ensuring that consortia quickly develop knowledge and expertise in relation to more complex and specialist services. We will also ensure that the NHS Commissioning Board has a particular focus on promoting quality improvement in relation to more complex or specialist services. This will include exploring joint commissioning with local authorities, for instance in relation to care and support for children (including looked after children and children living in families with multiple problems), people with long-term mental health conditions, and people with learning disabilities.
	In addition, local authorities and commissioning consortia will be required to prepare a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). This is to ensure that each area develops a comprehensive analysis of the current and future needs of their area (including those relevant to health, social care, public health). Based on the JSNA, the members of the Health and Wellbeing Board will be required to develop a joint health and well-being strategy for their area.
	Arrangements for annual health checks for people with learning disabilities are currently covered by a Directed Enhanced Service, which forms part of the overall contractual framework for GP practices. Under the future commissioning arrangements proposed in the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board would be responsible for commissioning services from GP practices and for negotiating any changes to GP contracts.

Spinal Cord Injuries: Rehabilitation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the rehabilitation requirements of people with spinal cord injuries who are not treated in specialist spinal cord injury centres; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Most spinal injuries are caused by road traffic accidents and sports injuries. The Spinal Injuries Association estimate that around 40,000 people are currently living with a spinal cord injury in the United Kingdom.
	Around 825 people are treated each year in the 11 United Kingdom specialist spinal injuries centres. These are based in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Middlesbrough, Oswestry, Sheffield, Southport, Stanmore, Stoke Mandeville, and Wakefield.
	Patients with a spinal injury will be referred to a specialist centre following initial treatment at a local hospital.
	Commissioning arrangements for specialised services, such as spinal injury services, have been strengthened by the publication in July 2006 of “Health Reform in England: Update and Commissioning Framework”. The framework was informed by the “Review of Commissioning Arrangements for Specialised Services”, under the leadership of Professor Sir David Carter, former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.
	Through specialised commissioning groups, primary care trusts work collectively to plan, commission and monitor specialised services for those with spinal injuries.
	It is the responsibility of health professionals to assess the rehabilitation of all those living with spinal injuries.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage charitable giving by Ministers in his Department.

Chris Grayling: All our Ministers are involved in charitable activity in their own constituency but that charitable giving is a private and personal issue.
	We have doubled DWP’s commitment to volunteering through our “Community 10,000” initiative to enable DWP staff to actively contribute to local voluntary and community organisations as part of this Government’s wider civil service initiative. In addition this Department supports the civil service’s official charity, The Royal National Lifeboat Institute and a Payroll Giving scheme is available to all employees.

Child Maintenance

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the potential savings to the Exchequer for charging (a) the parent with care and (b) the non-resident parent for (i) calculation fee, (ii) arrangement and collection fee and (iii) application fee when applying to use the Statutory Child Maintenance scheme under the proposals set out in the Green Paper on child maintenance.

Maria Miller: The impact of charges on the Exchequer will depend on the level at which they are set. We intend to publish detailed proposals and draft regulations in due course. Those will then be subject to a further period of consultation and, subsequently, affirmative regulations will be subject to debate in the House. The impact assessment accompanying consultation on the draft regulations will set out the financial implications of the proposed charging regime.

Crisis Loans

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department's impact assessment on proposals for the localisation of crisis loans and community grants, when he expects to publish his Department's assessment of the costs and benefits of the proposals.

Steve Webb: Our proposal is to replace community care grants with local provision. Crisis loans will be replaced by a combination of local provision and payments on account of benefit. Local provision will be the responsibility of local authorities in England and the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales. Payments on account will be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
	We published a call for evidence on the proposals for local provision on 17 February which contained consideration of the benefits of local delivery. If there are new administrative burdens on local authorities they will be funded by the Department for Work and Pensions in the usual way.

Disability Aids: Motor Vehicles

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the number of people found to have wrongfully received support in respect of an adapted motor vehicle in (a) England and (b) Winchester and Chandler's Ford in the most recent period for which data is available;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the eligibility criteria for the awarding of adapted cars for claimants of disability living allowance;
	(3)  how many people claiming the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance received an adapted motor vehicle in (a) England and (b) Winchester and Chandler's Ford in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: Support for adapted motor vehicles is available through the Motability scheme. The Department works closely with Motability but it is an independent charity and is wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability scheme. Specific questions relating to the operation of the scheme should be directed at Motability and can be sent to: Declan O'Mahony, Director, Motability, Warwick house, Roydon road, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5PX.
	Motability has advised that the rigorous assessment process and criteria they use for determining support for adapted vehicles has meant that they have never identified any incidences of scheme customers receiving support they were not entitled to. Support for vehicle adaptations is provided through Motability's own charitable fund or the Specialised Vehicles Fund, which Motability administers on behalf of the Department.
	The Specialised Vehicles Fund provides financial assistance to those severely disabled scheme customers who require complex vehicle adaptations that allow them to enter a car as a passenger while remaining seated in their wheelchair or enables them to drive their car whilst remaining seated in their wheelchair. The Department is satisfied that the criteria Motability use to sift applications to the Specialised Vehicles Fund helps severely disabled people who face barriers to living independently including those who are seeking or in employment or education.

Disability Living Allowance

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children, excluding existing applicants, whose premium entitlement in respect of disability will be reduced from £52 to £25.95 a week under the universal credit in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: Departmental modelling estimates that, once fully implemented, approximately 100,000 children would have a lower entitlement as a result of the reform of disability benefits under universal credit. However, these households will receive full cash protection against this change to ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition. Estimates on a year-by-year basis during the transition period are not available.

Disability Living Allowance

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department plans to take to gather evidence of overlapping payments made to recipients of the disability living allowance mobility component in residential care homes.

Maria Miller: DWP officials have been reviewing the available evidence and gathering more to determine the extent to which there are overlaps in provision for mobility needs of people in residential care homes.
	When the work is complete we will make a final decision on the way forward. Any changes will be rolled into the introduction of Personal Independence Payment from April 2013.
	Our intention is not to reduce the mobility of residents in care homes but to remove any overlaps in provision.

Disability Living Allowance

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of disability living allowance claimants with an indefinite award who will be granted a short-term award as a result of changes to the benefits system.

Maria Miller: Currently there is no systematic process for regularly reviewing disability living allowance (DLA) awards and the majority of DLA recipients—70%(1)—have an indefinite award, which means it may not be reviewed unless the individual reports a change in their condition or circumstances. As a result, some people are currently receiving an incorrect amount of DLA. This undermines the credibility of the benefit.
	We want to ensure that personal independence payment awards remain correct. We will do this by making awards for a fixed term, except in exceptional circumstances. The length of award will be based on the individual's needs and the likelihood of their health condition or impairment changing. As the award duration will be based on an assessment of the individual, I am unable to predict the outcome of the assessment and how many individuals with a current DLA award will receive a shorter-term award of personal independence payment.
	(1 )“Analysis of Disability Living Allowance: DLA Awards”, Department for Work and Pensions, March 2011.

Disability Living Allowance

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what income threshold will apply to people (a) with and (b) without disabilities for the payment of universal credit.

Chris Grayling: There is no single level of income beyond which universal credit will no longer be paid. Universal credit claimants will have a maximum amount reflecting personal circumstances such as housing costs, responsibility for dependent children and other needs. This maximum amount will be reduced to take account of certain types of earned and unearned income and income from capital.
	As we said in the recent policy briefing note
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ucpbn-1-additions.pdf
	for disabled people who have limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity, there will be an additional element included in the maximum amount. We have also said that there will be a disregard of net earnings of up to £7,000 a year in such cases.

Disability Living Allowance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1002-3W, on the disability living allowance, for what reasons he does not plan to publish the findings of the review into funding for the mobility needs of people in residential care; and when he expects the work to be complete.

Maria Miller: There is no formal review. Officials in the Department for Work and Pensions have been reviewing mobility needs and available support for residents of care homes. When this work is completed soon we will make a decision on the way forward. What is important is that we get the policy right. Any changes will be rolled into the introduction of personal independence payment from April 2013.

Disposable Income

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the level of personal disposable income in real terms in each year since 1981.

Chris Grayling: Estimates of equivalised household disposable incomes are available in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series, produced by the Department for Work and Pensions, which is why the question has been transferred from the Cabinet Office to the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. This data are at a household not individual level.
	
		
			 Table 1:   Median equivalised household income 1990-91 to 2009-10, in 2009-10 prices 
			 £ per week 
			  Before Housing Costs After Housing Costs 
			 1981 (UK) 254 206 
			 1987 (UK) 292 236 
			 1988-89 (UK) 313 256 
			 1990-91 (UK) 321 261 
			 1991-92 (UK) 322 263 
			 1992-93 (UK) 323 264 
			 1993-95 (UK) 328 270 
			 1994-95 (GB) 323 262 
		
	
	
		
			 1995-96 (GB) 323 263 
			 1996-97 (GB) 338 277 
			 1997-98 (GB) 344 282 
			 1998-99 (GB) 349 288 
			 1999-2000 (GB) 360 300 
			 2000-01 (GB) 371 312 
			 2001-02 (GB) 389 329 
			 2002-03 (UK) 396 341 
			 2003-04 (UK) 396 343 
			 2004-05 (UK) 400 348 
			 2005-06 (UK) 404 353 
			 2006-07 (UK) 405 355 
			 2007-08 (UK) 406 357 
			 2008-09 (UK) 409 354 
			 2009-10 (UK) 413 356 
			 Notes: 1. FES figures are for the United Kingdom, FRS figures are for Great Britain up to 2001-02, and for the United Kingdom from 2002-03. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. FES figures are two combined calendar years from 1990-91 to 1992-93 and two financial years combined for 1993-95. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. Figures have been presented on a Before Housing Cost and an After Housing Cost basis. For Before Housing Costs, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for After Housing Costs they are. 4. Disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax, payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 5. Incomes are presented in 2009-10 prices and have been rounded to the nearest £ sterling. 6. The majority of these statistics are publicly available in the Households Below Average Income Report on the DWP website: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbai Sources: 1. Family Expenditure Survey (FES) 1990-91 to 1993-95 2. Family Resources Survey (FRS)1994-95 to 2009-10

Employment and Support Allowance

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women claimed income-related employment and support allowance for themselves and a partner in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The information requested is given as follows.
	
		
			 Income-related employment and support allowance claimants with a partner, by gender at November 2010 
			  All income-based With partner payment 
			 All persons 322,450 51,080 
			 Female 142,800 15,880 
		
	
	
		
			 Male 179,650 35,200 
			 Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008.  3. Benefit type—The type of ESA is defined as pay status at the caseload date—this may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim.  4, Data in this table are for those receiving income-based ESA, but includes a small number of people entitled to both contributory and income-based ESA.  5. Figures for partners are only shown where an increase is in payment for a dependant adult. Source:  DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100%.

Employment Schemes: Mental Illness

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Work programme will support people with mental health problems into work; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Work programme will cater for a wide range of customer groups, including many with disabilities and health issues, including mental health issues.
	Harder to help customers will be able to access the programme early if appropriate and we will pay providers more to support them. For example, if a provider supports a customer moving from incapacity benefits to employment and support allowance into sustained employment, they can earn almost £14,000.
	We have not told providers what they must do to support customers except that they should provide a truly personalised service that addresses their customers' specific challenges, including through partnership work with local health care providers. They will be free to innovate to find new and more effective ways of overcoming a range of disadvantages, including those with mental health conditions.
	Many customers with disabilities are eligible for in work support through Access to Work, and those referred to the Work programme will remain eligible for the elements of this which providers couldn't reasonably be expected to offer.

English Language: Education

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions (a) he and (b) the Minister for Employment have had with (i) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (ii) the Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning on the proposal to only offer free courses in English for speakers of other languages to those in receipt of active benefits.

Chris Grayling: Ministers and officials in the Department for Work and Pensions worked closely with their counterparts in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to develop the Government's strategy on skills for sustainable growth. For people who do not have the necessary English language skills to find work, the Government recognise the importance of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) training in helping them gain employment and to contribute to society. It is equally vital that where people are required to engage in the labour market as a condition of receiving benefits that appropriate support is in place. The Government's priority is therefore to focus the available resources of publicly-funded ESOL provision on people whose lack of English is preventing them from finding work.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from the total household benefit cap households where any member is in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) personal independence payment, (c) attendance allowance, (d) constant attendance allowance, (e) employment and support allowance and is in the support group, (f) employment and support allowance and is in the work-related activity group, (g) carer's allowance and (h) any element or other component of universal credit paid in respect of a disability in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: The spending review 2010 announced that from 2013 we will introduce a cap on the total amount of benefit that working-age people can receive so that households on out-of-work benefits will no longer receive more in welfare payments than the average weekly wage for working households. The benefit cap is intended to promote fairness between those in and out of work and to increase incentives for people to move into work or increase their hours of employment.
	On its introduction we estimate that household benefit payments will be capped at around £500 per week for couple and lone parent households and around £350 per week for single adult households.
	We are looking at ways of easing the transition for families and providing assistance in hard cases.
	If the benefit cap were applied in full, as described in the supporting documentation for the spending review 2010 the savings to the Exchequer are estimated to be £225 million in 2013-14 and £270 million in 2014-15.
	The household benefit cap as announced excludes households where someone is in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (d) constant attendance allowance. Claimants receiving (b) personal independence payment will be treated the same way as claimants receiving disability living allowance for the purposes of the benefit cap.
	Estimates suggest that excluding households where a member is in receipt of (c)attendance allowance or (e) employment and support allowance and is in the support group would have a negligible impact on the overall savings from the benefit cap.
	Excluding households where a member is in receipt of (f) employment support allowance in the work-related activity group is expected to reduce savings to approximately £210 million in 2013-14 and £225 million 2014-15. Figures are not available for 2015-16 and beyond.
	Excluding households where a member is in receipt of (g) carers allowance is expected to reduce savings to approximately £210 million in 2013-14 and £255 million 2014-15. Figures are not available for 2015-16 and beyond.
	Note that estimates above are based on the current benefit system including changes announced in the spending review 2010, but excluding universal credit.
	Information on section (h) is not available as the estimated savings from the benefit cap in universal credit will depend upon final detailed design issues regarding the treatment of in-work households.
	Analysis of those affected by the benefit cap has been modelled using survey data—as such there is a degree of uncertainty around the results.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from the total household benefit cap households where no adult is subject to any work-related requirements for universal credit or out-of-work benefits under the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: The spending review 2010 announced that from 2013 we will introduce a cap on the total amount of benefit that working-age people can receive so that households on out-of-work benefits will no longer receive more in welfare payments than the average weekly wage for working households. The benefit cap is intended to promote fairness between those in and out of work and to increase incentives for people to move into work or increase their hours of employment.
	On its introduction we estimate that household benefit payments will be capped at around £500 per week for couple and lone parent households and around £350 per week for single adult households.
	If the benefit cap were applied as described in the spending review the savings to the Exchequer are estimated to be £225 million in 2013-14 and £270 million in 2014-15.
	If households where no adult is subject to any work-related requirements were excluded from the benefit cap, savings would fall to approximately £190 million in 2013-14 and £230 million in 2014-15. Figures for 2015-16 and beyond are not available.
	Analysis of those affected by the benefit cap has been modelled using survey data—as such there is a degree of uncertainty around the results.
	Note that estimates above are based on the current benefit system including changes announced in the spending review 2010, but excluding universal credit. The estimated savings from the benefit cap in universal credit will depend upon final detailed design issues regarding the treatment of in-work households.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from the total household benefit cap couples with dependent children who would not be affected by the benefit cap if they lived in separate households in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. We would have to make complex assumptions about housing costs, caring responsibilities and family composition of a couple living apart in order to estimate the cost to the Exchequer.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of excluding from the amount liable for the total household benefit cap (a) child benefit, (b) child tax credit, (c) child-care costs and (d) any amount of the universal credit awarded in respect of children in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: The spending review 2010 announced that from 2013 we will introduce a cap on the total amount of benefit that working-age people can receive so that households on out-of-work benefits will no longer receive more in welfare payments than the average weekly wage for working households. The benefit cap is intended to promote fairness between those in and out of work and to increase incentives for people to move into work or increase their hours of employment.
	On its introduction we estimate that household benefit payments will be capped at around £500 per week for couple and lone parent households and around £350 per week for single adult households.
	If the benefit cap were applied as described in the spending review the savings to the Exchequer are estimated to be £225 million in 2013-14 and £270 million in 2014-15.
	Estimates suggest that excluding (a) child benefit from the calculation of the household benefit cap would reduce savings to approximately £115 million in 2013-14 and £140 million 2014-15, while excluding (b) child tax credit would reduce savings to approximately £40 million in 2013-14 and £50 million in 2014-15. Figures are not available for 2015-16 and beyond.
	Working tax credit recipients (including those receiving child care support through WTC) are excluded from the benefit cap, therefore excluding support paid for (c) child care costs through working tax credit from the benefit cap will have no impact on the overall savings.
	The information requested in section (d) is not available as the estimated savings from the benefit cap in universal credit will depend upon final detailed design issues regarding the treatment of in-work households.
	Note that estimates above are based on the current benefit system including changes announced in the spending review 2010, but excluding universal credit.
	Analysis of those affected by the benefit cap has been modelled using survey data—as such there is a degree of uncertainty around the results.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the public purse of exempting from the total household benefit cap households that would be worse off in work once child-care costs are taken into consideration in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: The total amount of child-care costs depends on individual families' circumstances and therefore we are unable to make an accurate assessment of the proportion of households affected by the benefit cap that would be worse off in work.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the public purse of exempting from the total household benefit cap households where someone has left work due to (a) redundancy or illness and (b) reasons relating to the care of a child in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
	The costing model used to estimate the effects of the benefit cap is based on data from the 2008-09 Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS does not record information on whether an out-of-work member of a household left work due to redundancy or illness or for other reasons relating to the care of a child.

Housing Benefit

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of excluding from the amount liable for the total household benefit cap any amount of the universal credit paid in respect of a disability in each of the next five financial years.

Chris Grayling: We have announced that households which include a member who is entitled to disability living allowance or personal independence payment will be exempt from the cap.
	The specific information requested, is not available as the estimated savings from the benefit cap in universal credit will depend upon final detailed design issues regarding the treatment of in-work households.

Industrial Injuries

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many workplace injuries where exposure to high temperatures was a contributory factor were reported to the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last six years.

Chris Grayling: A total of 209 injuries have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive where exposure to high temperatures was stated as a contributory factor, as outlined in the following table. These relate to reported injuries to workers where the ‘agent of injury’ has been coded as 16.01 ‘Physical phenomena, excessive heat in atmosphere including from the sun’, injuries which can occur working both indoors and outdoors.
	
		
			  Fatal injuries Total injuries 
			 2004-05 — 36 
			 2005-06 — 31 
			 2006-07 1 55 
			 2007-08 — 15 
			 2008-09 — 33 
			 2009-10 — 39

Industrial Injuries

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions of employers the Health and Safety Executive has brought for failure to manage high temperatures in the workplace in each of the last six years.

Chris Grayling: From 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2010, the Health and Safety Executive took one prosecution as a result of employers' failures to manage high temperatures in the workplace. The employer was found guilty and ordered to pay fines totalling £30,000.

Motability

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with representatives of Motability on Aspect Conversions Ltd;
	(2)  whether his Department has any oversight of Motability's Premier Partner Supplier scheme.

Maria Miller: The Department works closely with Motability but it is an independent charity and is wholly responsible the administration of the Motability scheme. Specific questions relating to scheme policy or the operation of the scheme should be directed at Motability and can be sent to: Declan O'Mahony, Director, Motability, Warwick House, Roydon Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 5PX.

Motability: Finance

Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding his Department provided for the Motability scheme in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Miller: Motability is an independent charity and is wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability scheme. Motability is largely self-financed and the only funding the Department for Work and Pensions gives the scheme relates to the Specialised Vehicles Fund, which Motability administers on our behalf. Information on the amount of funding allocated to Motability in respect of the Specialised Vehicles Fund and its administration in each of the last 10 years is contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Funding for the Specialised Vehicle Fund and its administration over the last 10 years 
			 £000 
			  Specialised Vehicles Fund Administration 
			 2001-02 6,597 2,200 
			 2002-03 6,997 2,200 
			 2003-04 7,772 2,600 
			 2004-05 8,375 2,700 
			 2005-06 8,615 2,800 
			 2006-07 9,087 2,800 
			 2007-08 12,700 2,960 
			 2008-09 17,036 2,960 
			 2009-10 17,036 2,208 
			 2010-11 17,036 1,208 
			 Note:  The Specialised Vehicles Fund provides financial assistance to those severely disabled scheme customers who require complex vehicle adaptations that allow them to enter a car as a passenger while remaining seated in their wheelchair or enables them drive their car while seated in their wheelchair.

Child Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect of recent changes in child benefit on the number and proportion of children living in poverty by 2015.

Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
	Changes to child benefit are one of a number of changes the Government have made to the tax and benefits system. These changes also include substantial increases above indexation of the child element of the child tax credit in April 2011 and April 2012. Treasury analysis shows that modelled tax and benefit reforms announced since Budget 2010 may have a small reduction in child poverty in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
	The Government have recently published their first Child Poverty Strategy, which covers the period 2011-14, and sets out the Government’s vision for every child to have the opportunity to realise their potential and stabilise the lives of particularly vulnerable families.

Child Poverty

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce child poverty in (a) the London borough of Bexley and (b) London.

Maria Miller: The national child poverty strategy, published on 5 April this year, sets out how we will reduce child poverty across the UK. In addition to setting out how national reforms—such as the introduction of universal credit—will help reduce child poverty across the UK, the strategy also sets out local areas’ key role in tackling child poverty. Through decentralising power, reducing bureaucracy and greater local accountability we are giving local areas the freedom they need to tackle the particular root causes of child poverty in their area; for example the first phase of community budgets aimed at tackling families with multiple problems are being implemented in 16 local areas including eight London boroughs.
	The universal credit will support those who do the right thing, who take a full-time job to have an income which lifts them out of poverty. Our proposed design should enable most families with children who have a parent in full-time employment to have an income that lifts them out of poverty. The same should apply for lone parents who work at least 24 hours a week or more. The six contractors for London were announced in April and the programme will be rolled-out in London over the coming months.
	The strategy also sets put the Child Poverty Core Offer of sector-led support that is available to all local authorities to help them implement their duties to reduce child poverty under Part 2 of the Child Poverty Act 2010. As part of the Government’s wider goal to free-up policy delivery to target local need, we will continue to push power away from the centre to local government, communities and voluntary sectors, to help those families in difficulties make their voices heard.

Retirement: Age

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of (a) women and (b) men who would be affected by increasing the state pension age for men and women from 65 to 66 between 2020 and 2022 and bringing forward the proposed increased in the state pension age to 67 years old in 2036 by 18 months;
	(2)  if he will estimate the savings to the Exchequer which would arise from increasing the state pension age from 65 to 66 between 2020 and 2022 and bringing forward the proposed increase in the state pension age to 67 years old in 2036 by 18 months;
	(3)  if he will estimate the maximum delay in additional time for a (a) man and (b) woman to wait to receive a state pension in the case where the state pension age for both men and women increased from 65 to 66 between 2020 and 2022 and the proposed increase in the state pension age to 67 years old in 2036 was brought forward by 18 months.

Steve Webb: The number of women and men who would be affected by increasing the state pension age from 65 to 66 between 2020 and 2022 and bringing forward the legislated increase to 67 by 18 months is 2.9 million and 2.9 million, respectively.
	The maximum delay for both men and women compared to the currently legislated timetable in the case where the state pension age for both men and women increased from 65 to 66 between 2020 and 2022 and the proposed increase to 67 in 2036 was brought forward by 18 months would be of 12 months.
	Increasing the state pension’s age from 65 to 66 between 2020 and 2022 would result in savings of £19.7 billion (in 2010-11 prices) between 2020-21 and 2025-26. This is significantly less than the savings of £30 billion (in 2010-11 prices) between 2016-17 and 2025-26 resulting from the Pensions Bill 2011 timetable.
	Bringing forward the proposed increase in the state pension age to 67 by 18 months from the legislated timetable would result in savings of £11 billion (in 2010-11 prices) between 2032-33 and 2035-36.

State Retirement Pensions: Barnsley

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many women in Barnsley East constituency born between 6 March 1954 and 5 April 1954 will be required to wait an additional two years before claiming a state pension under his plans to accelerate the state pension age;
	(2)  how many women in Barnsley East constituency born between 6 December 1953 and 5 October 1954 will be required to wait an additional 18 months to claim a state pension under his plans to accelerate the state pension age.

Steve Webb: We estimate that in Barnsley East constituency there are approximately 480 women, born between 6 December 1953 and 5 October 1954, who will have an increase in state pension age of 18 months or more. Of these, approximately 50 women, born between 6 March 1954 and 5 April 1954, will have an increase in their state pension age of two years.

Universal Credit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of second earners who will be subject to higher withdrawal rates under universal credit who are in couples without children.

Maria Miller: Departmental modelling estimates that the majority of the estimated 300,000 second earners reported in the Impact Assessment to experience an increase in their withdrawal rate under universal credit are in couples with children. This is unsurprising given that over 90% of second earners with affected withdrawal rates are in couples with children. Less than 50,000 of the second earners who see an increase in their withdrawal rate are in childless couples.

Winter Fuel Payments

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2011, Official Report, column 1340W, on winter fuel payments, what the birthday date for qualification for winter fuel allowance will be for (a) men and (b) women in each of the next 15 years following enactment of the proposals set out in the Pensions Bill 2011.

Steve Webb: The age at which winter fuel payments can be received is increasing in line with the women’s state pension age.
	Following Royal Assent, the changes to state pension age set out in the Pensions Bill 2011 would mean that the next 15 years of qualifying birth dates for winter fuel payments will be as set out in the following table. The dates are the same for men and women.
	
		
			 Winter fuel payment qualifying dates 
			 Winter Must be born on or before this date to qualify 
			 2011-12 5 January 1951 
			 2012-13 5 July 1951 
			 2013-14 5 January 1952 
			 2014-15 5 July 1952 
			 2015-16 5 January 1953 
			 2016-17 5 May 1953 
			 2017-18 5 August 1953 
			 2018-19 5 November 1953 
			 2019-20 5 February 1954 
			 2020-21 26 September 1955 
			 2021-22 25 September 1956 
			 2022-23 24 September 1957 
			 2023-24 22 September 1958 
			 2024-25 21 September 1959 
			 2025-26 27 September 1960

EDUCATION

Children: Hearing Impairment

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what financial support his Department (a) has provided in each of the last three years and (b) plans to provide in 2011-12 and 2012-13 for hearing access equipment for deaf children in Walsall;
	(2)  what financial support his Department (a) has provided in each of the last three years and (b) plans to provide in 2011-12 and 2012-13 for speech and language therapy services for deaf children in Walsall;
	(3)  what financial support his Department (a) has provided in each of the last three years and (b) plans to provide in 2011-12 and 2012-13 for specialist education support services for deaf children in Walsall.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 19 May 2011
	Funding data specifically for hearing access equipment; for speech and language therapy services; and for specialist education support for deaf children are not collected by the Department. However, the available information on the net expenditure planned by Walsall local authority on the provision of education for pupils with special educational needs in the last three years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Planned (net) provision for pupils with SEN in Walsall 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Walsall 2,194,262 2,826,359 3,272,071 
		
	
	The Department is currently collecting the section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 Budget data for the 2011-12 financial year. The information will not be publicly available until later in the year, when it will be published as Official Statistics.

Departmental Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to encourage charitable giving by Ministers in his Department.

Sarah Teather: This is a personal matter for individual Ministers.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children are trained in emergency life support skills including cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Nick Gibb: Within the non-statutory programmes of study for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, pupils are taught about basic emergency procedures and where to get help. They learn to develop the skills to cope with emergency situations that require basic first aid procedures, including resuscitation techniques.
	The 2010 Ofsted report found that three quarters of schools surveyed provided good or outstanding PSHE.
	We have announced our intention to hold an internal review of PSHE education to determine how we can support schools to improve the quality of all PSHE teaching, including giving teachers the flexibility to use their judgement about how best to deliver PSHE education. Further details will be announced shortly.

School Standards

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research his Department has conducted on the cost-effectiveness of packages of education, care and health support in (a) non-maintained and (b) maintained special schools.

Sarah Teather: It is for local authorities to determine the cost-effectiveness of the school to be named in a child's statement of special educational needs. In determining the school to be named a local authority will take into account whether the placement is suitable to meet the child's age, ability aptitude and type of SEN; whether the placement is compatible with the efficient education of other children with whom the child will be educated; and whether the placement is an efficient use of local authority resources, which will include the cost-effectiveness of the placement. The fees charged by non-maintained special schools will vary with the individual needs of each child and are contractual matters to be decided between the school and local authority. Maintained special schools are currently funded in accordance with an authority's local funding formula determined in discussion with its schools forum. The first part of a two part consultation on school funding reforms closed on 25 May 2011 and full details are available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=conResults&consultationId=1756 &external=no&menu=3

Separation

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education in what geographic area the funding his Department has allocated for relationship support services with respect to family separation over the next four years will be spent.

Sarah Teather: The funding the Department has allocated to relationship support services is for England only.

Special Educational Needs

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assistance his Department provides to parents of children with learning difficulties.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 12 May 2012
	We set out in the Green Paper, “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”, the main ways we are supporting parents of children with learning difficulties: every local authority in England has a duty to arrange a parent partnership service to give parents advice and information about their child's special educational needs; the Department is directly funding parent carer forums in every local authority area which enable parents to shape local services for disabled children; and, we have also recently distributed £6.5 million in grants to the voluntary and community sector to provide local support to communities including parents of children with learning difficulties.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Advantage West Midlands

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to make a decision on the future ownership of the Ansty Business Park in Coventry following the closure of Advantage West Midlands.

Mark Prisk: Each regional development agency (RDA), including Advantage West Midlands (AWM), has developed a detailed plan for the disposal and treatment of its assets and liabilities and scrutiny of these is continuing. We have agreed aspects of AWM’s assets and liabilities plan and are still in discussions about others, including the future of the Ansty Business Park. In line with my previous answers on this issue disposals will be made in a way that secures best value for the taxpayer and minimises costs. It will be for AWM to set out a strategy for disposing of individual sites and assets.

Apprentices

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding he has allocated to support (a) apprenticeship places, (b) advanced apprenticeship places and (c) higher apprenticeship places in 2011-12.

Mark Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 February 2011, Official Report, columns 208-09W, to his question asking what funding has been allocated for (a) apprenticeship places, (b) advanced apprenticeship places and (c) higher apprenticeship places in 2011-12; and what funding was allocated in each such category in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.
	The apprenticeships programme is demand-led. Government do not plan apprenticeship places by level but provides funding and forecasts the overall number of places that may be afforded. We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand, taking advantage of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created in the further education system.
	In 2009-10, the planned expenditure on participation in apprenticeship training was £1,042 million(1). The apprenticeship budget for the 2010-11 financial year is £1,328 million(2): £780 million for 16 to 18-year-olds; £548 million for 19+. We expect to spend over £1,400 million in the 2011-12 financial year: £799 million for 16 to 18-year-olds; £605 million for those aged 19 and over(3).
	The total volume of apprenticeship starts in 2009/10 was 279,700. This is an increase of 16.6% compared to 2008/09. Of these there were:
	190,500 apprenticeship (Level 2) starts-a 20.2% increase on 2008/09;
	87,700 advanced apprenticeship (Level 3) starts-a 7.9% increase on 2008/09;
	1,500 higher level apprenticeship (Level 4+) starts-a large increase on 2008/09.
	We have ensured there is sufficient funding in place to train over 350,000 apprentices in England in the 2010/11 academic year. For the 2011/12 academic year, our indicative forecast is to fund over 360,000 apprenticeship places. The levels that these places are at will be determined by the level of skills employers actually need in their business.
	Provisional data show that there were 119,800 apprenticeship starts in the first quarter of the 2010/11 academic year. Of these there were:
	76,300 apprenticeship (Level 2) starts;
	42,300 advanced apprenticeship (Level 3) starts; and
	1,200 higher level apprenticeship (Level 4 or higher) starts.
	We are committed to improving, expanding and re-shaping apprenticeships so that Level 3 becomes the level to which learners and employers should aspire. We will also ensure there are clear routes into apprenticeships to widen access to the programme, and clear routes into higher level skills training including, but not exclusively, Level 4 apprenticeships.
	(1) LSC grant letter for 2009-10
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-statementofpriorities200910-nov08.pdf
	(2) 16-18 figs: DCSF 16-19 Statement of Priorities and Investment Strategy 2010-11; 19+figs: SFA Funding Letter
	(3) 16-18 figures: 16-19 Funding Statement, YPLA (December 2010); 19+ figures: Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth, BIS (November 2010)

Business: Higher Education

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant the answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, columns 485-6W, on business: higher education, how much funding was allocated to encouraging partnerships between universities and businesses in each of the last five years; how much such funding has been allocated through (a) the Research Council Pathways to Impact, (b) HEFCE's Research Excellence Framework, (c) the Higher Education Innovation Funding and (d) as a result of ongoing collaboration between the Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board for each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 15 March 2011
	Research Council Pathways to Impact are not a system for allocating separate funding. The first Research Excellence Framework assessment will be completed in 2014, and it will inform research funding allocations from 2015. In respect of higher education innovation funding, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 21 January 2011, Official Report, column 977W.
	The scale of Research Council activity aligned with the Technology Strategy Board over the three years 2008-11 was £200 million. Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board are committed to continue to work together; detailed decisions on future collaborative funding will be made by them in due course.

Business: Loans

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on small and medium-sized enterprises of the failure of banks who are party to the Merlin Agreement to meet their lending targets under that agreement.

Mark Prisk: The Merlin Agreement was about setting stretching lending targets to the banks to make sure that they make available the credit that businesses need to grow. This is particularly important for small businesses, and this is why we have insisted on individual figures for SMEs.
	The Bank of England reported the banks' first quarter performance against the Merlin Agreement on 23 May. Lending to SMEs in the first quarter was £16.8 billion against a quarterly ‘stretch’ target of £17.2 billion (the ‘capacity’ target would imply a figure of £19 billion). This is disappointing and, although lending to small firms will not follow a linear pattern month on month, the banks must do more to ensure that they meet their commitment over the next few months.
	The agreement with the banks was made mid-way through the first quarter, and this might have impacted on the figures. But it is too early to properly assess the impact of the Merlin Agreement on small businesses' ability to access bank finance.
	We will therefore continue to monitor very closely whether the banks are making sufficient credit available to small firms before passing a definitive judgement on the impact of the agreement on small businesses.
	The Government are clear that, if the banks fail to meet their commitments, the Government reserves the right to return to the matter and take further measures.

Business: Regulation

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress has been made in implementing the one-in-one-out rule to reduce the level of business regulation.

Mark Prisk: On April 7 2011, the Government published the first in a series of publications entitled ‘One-in, One-out: Statement of New Regulation’, which will be published twice a year. The Statement of New Regulation showed that the Government's one-in, one-out rule has resulted in an overall reduction in the net cost to business and civil society organisations of -£3.207 billion.
	When work started on the Statement of New Regulation, Departments proposed a total of 157 domestic regulatory measures, 119 of which would have imposed a cost to business. In the course of preparing the Statement of New Regulation the requirement for the estimates to be assessed and confirmed by the independent Regulatory Policy Committee was rigorously imposed, and Departments were challenged to defend particular regulatory decisions. The result was that the total number of proposed regulations dropped by 70% (from 157 to 46). Of the remaining 46 measures only 11 impose a net cost to business, 26 impose a zero net cost to business and nine reduce the net cost to business.

Businesses

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to remove regulatory burdens from businesses.

Mark Prisk: The Government have set out a clear aim—to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation.
	We have already taken a number of important steps towards this goal. For example, the Statement of New Regulation, published in April, showed that from an initial 157 proposed new domestic regulations, robust implementation of the one-in, one-out rule meant that the total number of regulations being implemented was reduced by 70% (from 157 to 46), of these only 11 imposed a net cost on business (£65 million) which was outweighed by a considerable reduction in burdens elsewhere (£3.3 billion).
	We have also ended ‘gold-plating’ of EU directives, introduced sunset clauses for new regulation and announced an unprecedented three-year regulatory moratorium from new domestic regulation for micro-businesses and new start-ups.
	The ‘One-in, One-out: Statement of New Regulation’ is available here:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/o/11-p96a-one-in-one-out-new-regulation.pdf

Businesses Advisory Services

Anne-Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of business mentors.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 7 June 2011
	The Government want to improve access to, and raise awareness of, the diverse mentoring provision and expertise in the UK. To achieve this we have been working with the British Bankers Association (BBA), UK trade bodies and mentoring organisations to develop a single web-based gateway. I understand that the BBA has identified approximately 50 key mentoring organisations which they hope will join the portal. These organisations have approximately 12,000 business mentors currently aligned to them.
	BIS is working with the BBA to make a more comprehensive assessment of the number of business mentors and to engage mentoring organisations, business organisations, multi national corporations and the banks to determine how to expand provision of business mentoring.

Consumer Credit

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish the Government’s response to the consultation on reforming the consumer credit regime.

Edward Davey: The Government will publish a summary of responses to the consultation in the summer, followed by a more detailed response in the autumn.

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of his Department's employees categorised by (a) seniority, (b) number of employees taking voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy.

Edward Davey: The Government are committed to transparency and the availability of data and are currently exploring options for the more frequent publication of this type of workforce management information across the civil service.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish information on employment levels by responsibility level as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment survey as well as information on the overall number of leavers by Department including BIS. This can be viewed at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899
	ONS publish information on employment levels across the civil service as part of the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Bulletin, which can be viewed at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=13615

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the name is of each contractor or supplier of (a) mobile telephone and (b) mobile data services to his Department.

Edward Davey: The Department currently uses Vodafone for its mobile telephone and mobile data services.

Education: Prisoners

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to “Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation”, how many and what proportion of offenders paid for learning in prison in the last year for which figures are available; and how many and what proportion he expects to pay for learning in prison following the implementation of the review's recommendations.

John Hayes: Data on the number offenders currently paying for their learning while in prison are not collected centrally.
	“Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation” made clear the Government's view that not all learning in prison should be free, particularly when there is an expectation elsewhere in the system that learners will contribute to costs. We have committed to considering the case for offenders, and employers, contributing to the costs of intermediate and higher level training, and to making sure arrangements for prisoners studying higher education are aligned with mainstream changes from autumn 2012.
	It is not currently possible to estimate how many or what proportion of prisoners will pay for learning in prison until we have considered these issues further.

Education: Prisoners

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to “Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation”, when he expects a loans system to be in place to enable offenders to pay for further education and higher education in prison.

John Hayes: For further education and training, “Skills for Sustainable Growth” set out the Government's intention to introduce loans, from the 2013/14 academic year, to help people access the funds they need to gain intermediate and higher level skills. Further information on those loans will be made available in a consultation document we intend to publish during June.
	Loan arrangements are already in place to support prisoners studying full-time higher education. The Minister for Universities and Science, my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr Willetts), announced in his oral statement of 3 November 2010, Official Report, column 924, on higher education funding and student finance that part-time students will be entitled to a loan for tuition on the same basis as full-timers, and that the Government intends to implement these changes for the 2012/13 academic year. Access to loans for prisoners studying higher education on a part-time basis will be considered in conjunction with the other changes required to give effect to this.

Export Credit Guarantees: Egypt

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to the merits of auditing debts owed by Egypt to the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and if he will consider the merits of cancelling any debt owed by Egypt which was the result of loans made to governments which are considered undemocratic.

Edward Davey: No audit of debts owed by Egypt to the Export Credits Guarantee Department is contemplated. To date Egypt has not sought cancellation of debts owed to ECGD or any other export credit agency. Such matters would be decided multilaterally through the auspices of the Paris Club of official creditors.

Export Credit Guarantees: Trinidad and Tobago

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2010, Official Report, column 361W, on export credit guarantees: Trinidad and Tobago; whether a claim has been made to the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of the cover on the sale of offshore patrol vessels to Trinidad and Tobago; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: No claim has been received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Higher Education

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  with reference to the report of the Higher Education Funding Council for England on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges”, if he will take steps to ensure that higher education courses provided by private providers are subject to the same standards of (a) transparency, (b) assessment and (c) measures of student satisfaction as publicly-funded higher education institutions;
	(2)  with reference to the report of the Higher Education Funding Council for England on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges”, what steps he plans to take to maintain the reputation of higher education;
	(3)  with reference to the report of the Higher Education Funding Council for England on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges”, if he will take steps to ensure that private providers of higher education have a duty to widen participation;
	(4)  with reference to the report of the Higher Education Funding Council for England on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges”, whether private providers of higher education will be subject to the same quality assessment regime as publicly-funded higher education institutions;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the report of the Higher Education Funding Council for England on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges” in relation to private provision of higher education;
	(6)  if he will take account of the risks identified by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in its report on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges” in further consultation on private provision of higher education;
	(7)  what discussions he has had with representatives of the higher education sector on the report of the Higher Education Funding Council for England on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges”;
	(8)  if he will (a) undertake and (b) publish an assessment of the risks to the public higher education sector of the expansion of private higher education providers;
	(9)  if he will bring forward proposals to mitigate the risks associated with an expansion of private provision in higher education identified by the Higher Education Funding Council of England in its report on “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges”.

David Willetts: The future regulatory regime for all providers of higher education will be considered in the forthcoming White Paper. This will set out the Government’s proposals to encourage a more diverse and competitive higher education sector alongside an appropriate regulatory regime, which ensures high standards and protects students. An impact assessment covering any proposed regulatory changes will be published alongside the White Paper.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) report “Diverse provision in higher education: options and challenges” was sent to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), on 28 July 2010. The Department welcomed the report as a valuable contribution to our thinking on how to encourage high quality and diverse provision that offers students a wider choice. The Secretary of State and I requested that the report be made publicly available in the annual grant letter to HEFCE on 20 December 2010. HEFCE published the report in February and is available at:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/flexible/statement.htm
	The Secretary of State and I have not held specific discussions on the HEFCE report with representatives of the higher education sector.

Higher Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish his White Paper on higher education.

David Willetts: We will publish our Higher Education White Paper shortly.
	The White Paper will set out major reform of the English higher education system. Reform of this scale warrants careful consideration so we have decided to take time to develop it.

Investment: North-East

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage investment in the north-east.

Mark Prisk: The Government have invited both the Tees Valley and North Eastern Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to establish their governance arrangements bringing business and civic leaders work together to drive sustainable economic growth and create the conditions for private sector job growth in their communities.
	These LEPs have been invited to submit proposals for Enterprise Zones which will benefit from:
	A business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per business over a five year period;
	All business rate growth within the Enterprise Zone for a period of at least 25 years will be retained by the local area, to support the Partnership's economic priorities and ensure that Enterprise Zone growth is reinvested locally;
	Government help to develop radically simplified planning approaches for the Zone, for example, existing Local Development Orders;
	Government support to ensure that superfast broadband is rolled out throughout the Zone, achieved through guaranteeing the most supportive regulatory environment and, if necessary, public funding.
	Further to these incentives the Government will work with LEPs on additional options, to suit local circumstances, including consideration of:
	Enhanced capital allowances for plant and machinery, in a limited number of cases and subject to State Aid, where there is a strong focus on manufacturing;
	Tax increment finance to support the long-term viability of the area;
	The north also benefited from £57 million in the first round of the Regional Growth Fund which provides funding for high-quality transport infrastructure, apprenticeships and support for science.
	The Government introduced a National Insurance Contributions holiday starting on 22 June 2010 up until 5 September 2013 providing new businesses that start up outside the greater south-east with a substantial reduction in their employer contributions.
	UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the UK's national trade and investment promotion agency, and leads on delivering a whole-of-Government approach to attracting high quality, high value investment to the UK. Support for inward investment in England, including the north- east, is provided by a new national UKTI-led service outsourced to the private sector. As part of this national inward investment service, a UKTI Investment Services team in Durham will work with local partners, including LEPs, to attract high quality inward investment projects to the north-east.

Knowledge Economy: Liverpool

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to encourage the growth of the knowledge economy in the Liverpool city region.

David Willetts: The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has identified the knowledge economy as one of its four key priorities. A plan to accelerate key areas of the economy has been devised by the City Region's Knowledge Economy Group, comprising representatives from The Mersey Partnership, the university of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores university, Liverpool Vision and some of the City Region's key knowledge based businesses. Proposals in the plan could secure an additional 58,000 jobs and in excess of £217 million added GVA—gross value added—for the region's knowledge economy by 2022.
	The LEP has received £45,000 from the BIS LEP Capacity Fund, to help local partners better understand their business environment and to identify the actions they need to take to drive their priorities forward.
	A project to stimulate small and medium enterprises (SMEs) growth in Liverpool through media advocacy has been awarded to the Liverpool Echo from the Regional Growth Fund. This will result in grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 to SMEs (including those in the Knowledge Economy) together with mentoring and coaching.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the representation of micro-businesses on local enterprise partnerships.

Mark Prisk: As set out in the White Paper on local growth, the Government will normally expect to see business representatives form half the board, with a prominent business leader in the chair. Furthermore, we encourage board members to be drawn from a breadth of experience from micro-enterprises through to large businesses, and representing the key sectors in the Local Enterprise Partnership area.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of companies on local enterprise partnership boards represent micro-businesses;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of companies on local enterprise partnership boards represent small businesses;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of companies on local enterprise partnership boards represent medium-sized businesses.

Mark Prisk: To date 13 Local Enterprise Partnership Boards have been recognised by the Government. These have a total of 83 private sector members of which 12% represent micro businesses (0-9 employees), 17% represent small businesses (10-49 employees) and 13% represent medium businesses (50-249 employees).

Medicine: Education

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate places at each university for (i) nursing and (ii) allied health professional qualifications in (A) the last three years and (B) the next three years.

Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 4 May 2011, Official Report, columns 847-48W.

Micro-business Regulation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the average wage of employees of micro-businesses of each (a) gender and (b) age group for those in (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employment.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 23 March 2011
	The Department for Business Innovation and Skills does not hold information on the average wages of employees working for micro-businesses. The Office for National Statistics produces official statistics on employees and earnings but are unable to provide data on these breakdowns.

Public Transport

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the effects of the (a) frequency and (b) cost of public transport services on (i) commuters and (ii) job seekers in (A) Coventry and (B) the west midlands.

Edward Davey: There have been no official discussions on these topics recently.

Regional Growth Fund

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on the second round of the Regional Growth Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) opened on the 12 April and will close at noon 1 July 2011. Just under £1 billion will be available in this round.
	To support Round 2 there are currently a series of RGF roadshows travelling across England, chaired by Lord Heseltine and Sir Ian Wrigglesworth. These offer presentations on the Fund's objectives, clinics on the RGF application process and programme bids, and offer potential bidders an individual session to discuss their proposed bid. To date these events have been very well received.

Students: Fees and Charges

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the level of fees for part-time university courses in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

David Willetts: We do not hold information on average fee levels for part-time courses in 2011/12. The majority of institutions have not yet set their fees for part-time courses for 2012/13 so it is too early to tell what the average fees will be. From September 2012, eligible new part-time students will have access to loans to cover the full cost of their regulated tuition fee.

Students: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 717W, on students: finance, how much his Department spent on communicating student finance arrangements to prospective students, adjusted for inflation, in each year from 1999-2000 to 2010-11.

David Willetts: In the 2010/11 financial year £37,936 (£29,219 in 2000/01 prices) was spent on preparatory research for our current higher education student finance campaign. Thus far in 2011/12 £1.475 million has been allocated to this campaign which includes the £150,000 previously cited for the costs of employing an advertising agency.
	For the 2010/11 financial year the Student Loan Company spent £1,650,243 (£1,271,040 in 2000/01 prices) communicating student finance arrangements to prospective students.
	The following tables provide the figures adjusted for inflation in real terms at 2000/01 prices, the year from which the first figures are quoted.
	
		
			 Original Table 
			 Financial year Department for Business, Innovation and Skills student finance publicity budget Student Loans Company communications budget 
			 1999-2000 — — 
			 2000-01 90,000 — 
			 2001-02 1,660,000 — 
			 2002-03 2,025,000 — 
			 2003-04 4,000,000 — 
			 2004-05 2,000,000 280,598 
			 2005-06 4,500,000 1,483,900 
			 2006-07 4,100,000 1,097,092 
			 2007-08 4,500,000 3,288,351 
			 2008-09 4,000,000 2,851,560 
			 2009-10 60,000 5,263,030 
		
	
	
		
			 Expenditure adjusted for inflation in real terms at 2000  -  01 prices 
			 Financial year Department for Business. Innovation and Skills student finance publicity budget Student Loans Company communications budget 
			 1999-2000 — — 
			 2000-01 90,000 — 
			 2001-02 1,623,677 — 
			 2002-03 1,918,881 — 
			 2003-04 3,686,365 — 
			 2004-05 1,793,323 251,601 
			 2005-06 3,963,102 1,306,855 
			 2006-07 3,493,549 934,816 
			 2007-08 3,727,581 2,723,910 
			 2008-09 3,224,205 2,298,504 
			 2009-10 47,553 4,171,214 
		
	
	The inflationary figures have been obtained using the ‘gross domestic product time series’ tool available on the HM Treasury website, which enables figures to be adjusted year on year for inflation, via this URL:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_gdp_fig.htm

Vocational Training

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to address skills shortages nationally.

John Hayes: The coalition's skills strategy set out our plans to address the nation's skills shortages and realise our ambition to create a world-class skills base. We are addressing current weaknesses in the vital intermediate technical skills that are increasingly important as jobs become more highly skilled and technological change accelerates. We have already made significant progress in the short time since the skills strategy's publication.
	We have placed apprenticeships at the heart of the system, expanding, improving and reshaping them so that technician level—Level 3—becomes the level to which learners and employers aspire. We are creating clear routes from apprenticeships to higher level training. Alongside apprenticeships there will be a wider and more flexible system of vocational qualifications that meets the needs of the economy.
	In addition, we have established the Growth and Innovation Fund to support employers to be more ambitious about raising skills to reach their growth potential. And we have refocused the role of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to be a true vehicle for economic growth and social partnership, with employers, trade unions and others coming together to give effective leadership on skills. One of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills strategic objectives is to provide high quality labour market intelligence to enable the supply of skills to be matched with demand more effectively.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Departmental CCTV

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many CCTV cameras are installed in and around the Government Equalities Office premises; and how much such cameras (a) cost to install and (b) cost to operate in the latest period for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is based within the Home Office's main premises at 2 Marsham street, therefore the responsibility for procurement, installation and running costs of such equipment falls to the Home Office and not GEO.